Navigation system including navigation server, mobile terminals, and beacon signal generating devices

ABSTRACT

A navigation server includes a network interface controller through which identification information and movement line information of a mobile terminal are received from the mobile terminal, the movement line information including location information and a timestamp, a storage device in which movement line data of the mobile terminal and location data of different places are stored, and a processor configured to extract the movement line data from the movement line information and record the extracted movement line data in the storage device. The processor, in response to a search criteria received from the mobile terminal through the network interface controller, generates using the movement line data and the location data of the different places, a navigation map that shows a place that is located along a route defined by the movement line data and meets the search criteria, and transmits the navigation map to the mobile terminal for display.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/687,531, filed Aug. 27, 2017, which application is based upon andclaims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2016-186157, filed Sep. 23, 2016, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an informationprocessing apparatus, a system, a mobile terminal, and a program.

BACKGROUND

A person may recall and want to return to a park that the person hasseen while on the move, to visit a facility that the person has seenwhile on the move, or to purchase a merchandise displayed at astorefront that the person has seen while on the move. For example, abirthday present for a family member may come to mind during shopping,and the person may recall merchandise displayed at the storefront thatthe person has seen while on the move. In addition, when the personthinks about buying food and drink to go to an outdoor place to rest,during a drive on a sunny day, the person may recall a beautiful parkthat the person has seen for a brief moment, e.g., through a spacebetween buildings. In such cases, the person recalls clearly seeing thelocations while on the move and wants to return there. In addition, whenthe person is on the move, the person acquires feelings about thestreet, the atmosphere, the level of security, and the like regardinghis traveled path. Thus, the person feels more comfortable on thefamiliar path than paths that the person has not yet traveled. Forexample, when searching for a karaoke studio, women, students, and thelike feel more comfortable with searching for a karaoke studio that ison a familiar path than that not previously traveled.

A system exists that generates movement line data indicating a movementof a user. In this system, GPS position information is accumulated in amobile phone carried by the user. The user inputs the accumulated datainto a multifunction peripheral installed on the path toward his or herdestination and prints the movement line data based on the accumulateddata. With the printed movement line data, the user can notice whetherhis or her movement is out of the way, or confirm a positionalrelationship between the user's current position and a famous place orthe like that is registered in a location near the destination.

However, a system that provides the user with guidance and informationregarding the path that the user has traveled has been slow to develop.Even if the user tries to return to a place that the user recalls asbeing attractive or a store where the user recalls seeing a displayedmerchandise that the user is interested in buying, the user ends upwandering aimlessly until he or she finds the place or eventually givingup if he or she cannot find the place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of a server apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of a mobile terminal.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto store search service.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofa movement line data management table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofa position information conversion table.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofa map information table.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofa store information table.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofa merchandise information table.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions forreceiving the store search service.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating one example of a storage areaconfiguration of a data portion of transmitted data that an estimatedposition information notifying unit instructs a first communicating unitto transmit to the server apparatus.

FIGS. 12A to 12D are diagrams illustrating one example of a storage areaconfiguration of a data portion of transmitted data that a viewer unitinstructs the first communicating unit to transmit to the serverapparatus.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between eachdevice of the guidance system in the case of accumulating an estimatedposition of the mobile terminal in the server apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating one example of a process flow of aposition information notification process.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating one example of a process flow of anestimated position information registration process.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between eachdevice of the guidance system in the case of the mobile terminalsearching for a store by list.

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between eachdevice of the guidance system in the case of the mobile terminalsearching for a store by keyword.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus receiving a movement line data request signal.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus receiving a store list request signal.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus receiving a keyword search request signal.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus receiving a shortest route request signal.

FIGS. 22-25 are each a diagram illustrating one example of screenconfigurations and a screen flow of each screen used in a store searchapplication.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of providing functionalunits in a distributed manner in a plurality of server apparatusesaccording to a second embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto store search service of a server apparatus.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of a POS terminal.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto merchandise inquiry.

FIGS. 31A and 31B are diagrams illustrating one example of storage areaconfigurations of data storage portions of transmitted data of theserver apparatus and response data of the POS terminal.

FIG. 32 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between eachdevice of the guidance system in the case of a mobile terminal searchingfor a store by keyword.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus receiving a keyword search request signal.

FIG. 34 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a serverapparatus of a guidance system according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of a multimedia terminal.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto store searching of the multimedia terminal.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating one example of a process flow of themultimedia terminal.

FIGS. 39A to 39D are diagrams illustrating one example of displayscreens of the multimedia terminal.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a lost article guidance system according to a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto lost article guidance service of a server apparatus.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configurationof a found article management table.

FIG. 45 is a perspective exterior view of a POS cash registerillustrated as one example of a POS terminal.

FIG. 46 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto found article reporting.

FIG. 47 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between devicesof the lost article guidance system in the case of the POS terminalreporting found article information to the server apparatus.

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating one example of a found articlenotification screen.

FIGS. 49-50 are sequence diagrams illustrating communication betweendevices of the lost article guidance system in the case of a mobileterminal making a query as to a lost article to the server apparatus.

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating one example of a process flow of theserver apparatus.

FIG. 52 is a diagram illustrating one example of a process flow of thePOS terminal.

FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating a pop-up screen of one example of ascreen prompting searching that is displayed on the POS terminal.

FIG. 54 is a diagram illustrating one example of screen configurationsand a screen flow of screens related to lost article guidance used in anapplication of the mobile terminal.

FIG. 55 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions of amultimedia terminal according to an eleventh embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments provide an information processing apparatus, a system, amobile terminal, and a program, that enable a user to search for atarget place along a path.

In general, according to one embodiment, a navigation server includes anetwork interface controller through which identification informationand movement line information of a mobile terminal are received from themobile terminal, the movement line information including locationinformation and a timestamp associated with the location information, astorage device in which movement line data of the mobile terminal andlocation data of different public places are stored, and a processorconfigured to extract the movement line data from the movement lineinformation and record the extracted movement line data in the storagedevice. The processor, in response to a search criteria received fromthe mobile terminal through the network interface controller, generatesusing the movement line data and the location data of the differentpublic places, a navigation map that shows a public place that islocated along a route defined by the movement line data and meets thesearch criteria, and transmits the navigation map to the mobile terminalfor display by the mobile terminal.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing apparatus, asystem, a mobile terminal, and a program will be described in detailwith reference to the appended drawings.

First Embodiment

The present embodiment illustrates an application example to a guidancesystem that can be introduced into a plurality of commercial facilities,such as a shopping center or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system according to a first embodiment. A guidance system100 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a server apparatus 1, a mobile terminal 2,and a beacon device 3. The server apparatus 1 is disposed in anintracompany local area network (LAN) N1 of an operating company or thelike. The mobile terminal 2 is a mobile terminal device such as asmartphone or a wearable terminal that is carried by a user of serviceprovided by the operating company. The wearable terminal may be awristwatch type, a glass type, or the like. The beacon device 3 isdisposed at each place such as passages and stores in each commercialfacility U. In the network configuration, the mobile terminal 2, whilein a transmission area of the beacon device 3, receives a beacon signalthat is transmitted by the beacon device 3. In addition, the mobileterminal 2 communicably connects to a wireless base station 4 such as amobile phone base station of 3G, 4G, or the like or a Wi-Fi spot andaccesses the server apparatus 1 through a mobile communication networkN2 and the Internet N3.

In the guidance system 100, the server apparatus 1, the mobile terminal2, and the beacon device 3 operate as follows.

The server apparatus 1 stores information indicating each position alonga moving path of the mobile terminal 2 and provides various types ofservice based on the stored position information. In the presentembodiment, the server apparatus 1 provides search service for a store(hereinafter, referred to as “store search service”) along a path passedby a service user Q by communication with the mobile terminal 2 carriedby the service user Q. The position of the mobile terminal 2 is aposition estimated using the beacon signal or the like. Thus,hereinafter, the position information of the mobile terminal 2 stored inthe server apparatus 1 will be referred to as “estimated positioninformation”.

At each place along the path passed by the service user Q, the mobileterminal 2 receives the beacon signal of the beacon device 3, eachbeacon signal that is transmitted to the mobile terminal 2 including theposition of the place. The mobile terminal 2 transmits the positioninformation of each place indicated by the received beacon signal to theserver apparatus 1. In addition, the mobile terminal 2 transmitsinformation such as a keyword indicating a search condition for a targetstore to the server apparatus 1 and acquires, from the server apparatus1, the position information of a store along the path passed by theservice user Q or the position information of a store further narrowedwith the search information.

The beacon device 3 provides a notification indicating the positionthereof to the position thereof to the mobile terminal 2 in itssurrounding area. In the present embodiment, the beacon device 3transmits unique identification information (for example, a terminalnumber) stored in its memory to its surrounding area thereof byBluetooth (registered trademark) communication. The identificationinformation is transmitted by Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communicationin the present embodiment. The transmission range is a predeterminedrange having a radius of, for example, 1 m, 3 m, or 10 m around thebeacon device 3. The transmission range is appropriately set inaccordance with the installation place, the installation interval, orthe like of the beacon device 3.

Hereinafter, specific configurations of each device of the guidancesystem 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.Various configurations of the server apparatus 1 and the mobile terminal2 will be mainly described below.

Hardware Configurations of Each Device

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of the server apparatus 1. The server apparatus 1illustrated in FIG. 2 has a central processing unit (CPU) 101, aread-only memory (ROM) 102, a random access memory (RAM) 103, a harddisk drive (HDD) 104, an input/output (I/O) 105, a network interfacecontroller (NIC) 106, and the like. Each unit is mutually connected by abus 107. Each unit operates by receiving supply of power from a powersupply unit (not illustrated) such as a battery or an AC power supply.

The CPU 101 executes operation processes and control processes for eachunit. The ROM 102 stores a fixed program such as a basic input/outputsystem (BIOS). The RAM 103 is used as a work area when the CPU 101executes a program.

The HDD 104 stores various programs and various types of data. Variousprograms include an operating system (OS), a driver, server software,database software, a service program for store searching, and the like.Various types of data include screen information transmitted to anexternal device (such as the mobile terminal 2), a data file of adatabase DB (refer to FIG. 4), and the like.

The I/O 105 is an input-output circuit for a signal that targets an I/Odevice such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a display.

The NIC 106 is a controller that performs communication by Ethernet(registered trademark).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of the mobile terminal 2. A configuration of a smartphoneis illustrated as one example. The mobile terminal 2 illustrated in FIG.3 has a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a flash ROM 203, a touch display module 204,a camera module 205, a keypad 206, a microphone 207, a speaker 208, asensor 209, a Bluetooth communicating circuit 210, a Wi-Fi communicatingcircuit 211, a mobile communicating circuit 212, and the like. Each unitis connected to the CPU 201 by a bus 213. Each unit operates byreceiving supply of power from a battery (not illustrated).

The CPU 201 executes operation processes and control processes for eachunit. The RAM 202 is used as a work area when the CPU 201 executes aprogram.

The flash ROM 203 is used as a storage. The flash ROM 203 stores variousprograms and various types of data. Various programs include an OS, adriver, client software, an application for store search service(hereinafter, referred to as a store search application), and the like.Various types of data include screen data such as a home screen, screeninformation used by the store search application, and the like.

The touch display module 204 includes a display 250 and a touch panel251 stacked on the display 250. The display 250 is a display of a liquidcrystal or the like. The touch display module 204 detects a touch inputof a user on the touch panel 251 and notifies the CPU 201 of a signalindicating the touch input. In addition, the touch display module 204displays screen data output from the CPU 201 on the display 250.

The camera module 205 includes an imaging element such as a CCD anddrives the imaging element to generate imaged data of a subject.

A plurality of hardware keys is connected to the keypad 206. If any ofthe hardware keys is pushed, the keypad 206 outputs a key signalcorrelated with the hardware key to the CPU 201.

The microphone 207 receives input of an analog audio signal and convertsthe analog audio signal into digital audio data.

The speaker 208 converts reproduced audio data into an audio signal andoutputs the audio signal.

The sensor 209 includes various sensors such as a GPS sensor, anacceleration sensor, and a direction sensor.

The Bluetooth communicating circuit 210 performs communication by theBluetooth communication protocol.

The Wi-Fi communicating circuit 211 wirelessly communicates with a Wi-Fidevice.

The mobile communicating circuit 212 performs mobile communicationthrough a 3G line or a 4G line.

Functional Configurations of Each Device

Next, a functional configuration of the server apparatus 1 will bedescribed. The server apparatus 1 implements functions for the storesearch service by the CPU 101 reading various programs in the ROM 102 orthe HDD 104 into the RAM 103 and executing the programs.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one example of the functionsrelated to the store search service. As illustrated in FIG. 4, theserver apparatus 1 implements functions of a communicating unit 10, anassignment processing unit 11, a screen information generating unit 12,an estimated position information registering unit 13, a time-seriesdata extracting unit 14, a map data extracting unit 15, a movement linegenerating unit 16, a movement range specifying unit 17, a storeinformation extracting unit 18, a shortest route finding unit 19, andthe like.

The communicating unit 10 establishes communication with an externaldevice (for example, the mobile terminal 2) through the NIC 106 andreads received data from the NIC 106 and sends transmitted data such asscreen information to the NIC 106. In addition, the communicating unit10 passes a request content or the like of the received data to theassignment processing unit 11 and receives a processing result or thelike from the assignment processing unit 11.

The assignment processing unit 11 manages sessions per identificationinformation of the external device (e.g., the mobile terminal 2 or thelike) and assigns processes to each functional unit or receives andpasses data with the functional units in accordance with the requestcontent of the received data.

The screen information generating unit 12 generates screen informationto be transmitted to the external device (e.g., the mobile terminal orthe like) by incorporating a processing result into the screeninformation of the HDD 104.

The estimated position information registering unit 13 registers theestimated position information of the service user in a movement linedata management table T1 (refer to FIG. 5) in correlation withtime-series order information. In the present embodiment, the mobileterminal 2 receives a beacon ID from the beacon device 3 and transmitsthe beacon ID to the server apparatus 1. Therefore, the estimatedposition information registering unit 13 references a positioninformation conversion table T2 (refer to FIG. 6), converts the beaconID into correlated position information in the position informationconversion table T2, and registers the position information in themovement line data management table T1. In addition, in the case ofcorrection information for the position being included in theinformation transmitted from the mobile terminal 2, the estimatedposition information registering unit 13 corrects the position andregisters the position information in the movement line data managementtable T1.

The time-series data extracting unit 14 extracts time-series estimatedposition information (more generally referred to as time-series data) ofthe service user from the movement line data management table T1. Forexample, the time-series data extracting unit 14 specifies the movementline data management table T1 of the service user and, in the case ofreceiving date and time information of the current date as a defaultvalue from the assignment processing unit 11, extracts the time-seriesdata to which the date is attached. In addition, the time-series dataextracting unit 14, in the case of receiving date and time informationspecified in a data portion of the received data from the assignmentprocessing unit 11, extracts the time-series data of the specified date.

The map data extracting unit 15 extracts, from a map information tableT3 (refer to FIG. 7), map data that includes a position specified by theestimated position information of the time-series data extracted by thetime-series data extracting unit 14.

The movement line generating unit 16 generates movement line data basedon the time-series data extracted by the time-series data extractingunit 14. For example, the movement line generating unit 16 generatesmovement line data that is acquired by interpolating straight line databetween each estimated position information in accordance with thetime-series order. In addition, from information that indicates a pathalong which a person can move, such as a passage on the map dataextracted by the map data extracting unit 15, the movement linegenerating unit 16 may correct the position indicated by each estimatedposition information in such a manner that the position is within thepath and may generate movement line data by using the post-correctiondata. In the present specification, the time-series data and themovement line data are illustrated as one example of “movement lineinformation”.

Furthermore, in accordance with a viewer included in the external device(e.g., the mobile terminal or the like), the movement line generatingunit 16 may combine the generated movement line data on the map dataextracted by the map data extracting unit 15 and may convert the mapdata combined with the movement line data into an image.

The movement range specifying unit 17, based on each estimated positioninformation of the time-series data extracted by the time-series dataextracting unit 14, specifies an area as a movement range within apredetermined range to which each estimated position belongs. Forexample, the movement range specifying unit 17 generates, as rangespecification information, a circle of a predetermined radius having thecoordinates of each estimated position as center coordinates thereof andspecifies the area in each circle as the above area. In addition, fromthe movement line data based on each estimated position, the movementrange specifying unit 17 may generate, as the range specificationinformation, one or a plurality of rectangular boxes (e.g., coordinateinformation of two diagonal points) of a predetermined size along thepath on the line of movement and may specify the area in eachrectangular box as the above area. The above area is one example of a“search range” along the line of movement. The “search range” along theline of movement covers a predetermined range from each point alongsuccessive points of the time-series data and a predetermined rangealong a straight line, a curved line, or the like from the startingpoint to the endpoint of the movement line data generated based on thetime-series data.

The store information extracting unit 18 extracts store information(e.g., a store ID, store position information, store introductioninformation, or the like) of a relevant store under conditions such asthe range specification information specified by the movement rangespecifying unit 17, the search information for a target store suppliedby the service user, and the like. For example, the store informationextracting unit 18 searches for a store positioned in the area indicatedby the range specification information from store position information802 of a store information table T4 (refer to FIG. 8) and extracts a hitrecord of the store (e.g., in the form of a store ID, store positioninformation, store introduction information, or the like).Alternatively, the store information extracting unit 18 searches for astore positioned on the line of movement or along the passageoverlapping with the line of movement from the store information tableT4 and extracts a hit record of the store. Furthermore, the storeinformation extracting unit 18, in the case of presence of the searchinformation of the service user, performs searching, subsequent to aboveeach process, with the search information for various types of searchedinformation that are set in a merchandise information table T5 (refer toFIG. 9) having a table name of any of each extracted store ID 801. Ifthe searching in the merchandise information table T5 generates a hit,the store information extracting unit 18 confirms previously extractedrecord information of the store ID of the table name as the storeinformation of the store relevant to the search conditions.

The shortest route finding unit 19 is one example of a “way guidanceinformation processing section”. The shortest route finding unit 19finds the shortest route from a specified starting position to aspecified end position on the specified map data and generates shortestroute information as one example of “way guidance information”. Forexample, the shortest route finding unit 19 finds the shortest route ofany acquirable routes such as passages connecting the starting positionto the end position on the map data.

Furthermore, in accordance with the viewer included in the externaldevice (e.g., the mobile terminal or the like), the shortest routefinding unit 19 may combine the generated shortest route information onthe map data extracted by the map data extracting unit 15 and mayconvert the combined data into an image as the “way guidanceinformation”.

Functional units that specify processes such as registration, updating,deletion, and extraction of data in various tables, perform theprocesses by connecting to a database management system (DBMS) andissuing SQL statements to the DBMS.

Table Configuration

Configurations of tables of the database DB that is stored by the HDD104 (refer to FIG. 2) and illustrated by a broken line in FIG. 4 will bedescribed by using FIG. 5 to FIG. 9. The database DB includesinformation tables such as a movement line data management table, aposition information conversion table, and a map information table andincludes correspondence information such as a store information table, amerchandise information table, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofthe movement line data management table. The movement line datamanagement table T1 illustrated in FIG. 5 is a table that is generatedper terminal ID of the mobile terminal 2 carried by the user of theservice. The movement line data management table T1 is a table thatcorrelates date and time information 501 with estimated positioninformation 502. The date and time information 501 is information thatindicates a date and time. The estimated position information 502 isinformation that indicates the estimated position of the mobile terminal2. In the present embodiment, position information that includeslongitude (X1, X2, . . . ) and latitude (Y1, Y2, . . . ) is illustratedas one example of information indicating a position.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofthe position information conversion table. The position informationconversion table T2 illustrated in FIG. 6 is a table that correlates abeacon ID 601 with beacon position information 602. The beacon ID 601 isthe beacon ID (e.g., a terminal number or the like) of the beacon device3 disposed in the commercial facility U. The beacon position information602 is the position information for uniquely specifying a place wherethe beacon device 3 is disposed in the commercial facility U.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofthe map information table. The map information table T3 illustrated inFIG. 7 is a table that is disposed per ID of the affiliated commercialfacility U and correlates area selection information 701, mapinformation 702, and the like with each other. The area selectioninformation 701 is information that represents the range of the areaillustrated by the map data with longitude and latitude. For example,the area selection information includes information of two points of(X0, Y0) and (X5, Y5) as information indicating the range of thelongitude X0 to the longitude X5 and the latitude Y0 to the latitude Y5.The map information 702 is path information that indicates a directory,a file name, or the like indicating a storage destination of the rangeof the map data indicated by the area selection information 701. Thepresent embodiment provides the map data in such a manner that for themap data in each hall of the affiliated commercial facility U, each hallmap is divided into a plurality of blocks. The number of divisions ofthe map data is not one type, but plural types. In FIG. 7, data 7011 anddata 7012 have a common area of (X0, Y0) to (X5, Y5). The data 7011 andthe data 7012 are different in the range of map data due to differentnumbers of divisions.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofthe store information table. The store information table T4 illustratedin FIG. 8 is a table that correlates store ID 801, store positioninformation 802, store introduction information A 803, storeintroduction information B 804, . . . , and the like with each other.The store ID 801 is an ID that uniquely identifies a store. The storeposition information 802 is position information that indicates theposition of a store on the map data. The store introduction informationA 803, the store introduction information B 804, . . . are introductioninformation for stores. For example, the store introduction informationA 803, the store introduction information B 804, . . . are objectiveinformation that supports the user of the store search service narrowingthe stores, such as the name of the store, handled merchandiseinformation of the store, surrounding area information of the store, orpath information such as a directory or a file name indicating thestorage destination of an image illustrating a summary of the store.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configuration ofthe merchandise information table. The merchandise information table T5illustrated in FIG. 9 is a table that correlates information used assearched information such as a merchandise code 901, a classification902, a merchandise name 903, and a unit price 904. The merchandise code901 is a code for uniquely identifying the type of merchandise, such asa Japanese article number (JAN) code. The classification 902 is categoryinformation to which merchandise belongs. For example, theclassification 902 is information indicating a main classification suchas “clothes” or “footwear” or information indicating a subclassificationsuch as “hats” or “leather shoes” standardized in Japan. The merchandisename 903 is the name of merchandise. For example, the merchandise name903 is a general name indicating a feature of a shape, a function, orthe like or is a name in which a brand name and a general name arecombined, such as “leather shoes by brand L”. Besides, informationrelated to merchandise such as a manufacturer or a feature ofmerchandise is appropriately set.

Functional Configuration Continued

Next, a functional configuration of the mobile terminal 2 will bedescribed. The mobile terminal 2 implements functions for receiving thestore search service of the server apparatus 1 by the CPU 201 readingvarious programs in the flash ROM 203 into the RAM 202 and executing theprograms.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating one example of the functions forreceiving the store search service. As illustrated in FIG. 10, themobile terminal 2 implements functions of an input receiving unit 21, ascreen display unit 22, a first communicating unit 23, a secondcommunicating unit 24, an estimated position information notifying unit25, a viewer unit 26, and the like.

The input receiving unit 21 receives input information such as keyinformation or touch input information from the keypad 206 or the touchdisplay module 204.

The screen display unit 22 outputs screen data to the touch displaymodule (and then to display 250).

The first communicating unit 23 establishes communication with theserver apparatus 1 or transmits and receives instructions or data withthe server apparatus 1 through the Wi-Fi communicating circuit 211 orthe mobile communicating circuit 212.

The second communicating unit 24 reads the beacon ID transmitted fromthe beacon device 3 through the Bluetooth communicating circuit 210.

The estimated position information notifying unit 25 generates theestimated position information of the mobile terminal 2 from the beaconID read by the second communicating unit 24 and instructs the firstcommunicating unit 23 to transmit the estimated position information tothe server apparatus 1. Generation of the estimated position informationis performed after the estimated position information notifying unit 25determines whether or not the beacon ID has a predetermined format. Inthe present embodiment, the date and time information that is requiredwhen the estimated position information of the mobile terminal 2 ismanaged in the time-series order in the server apparatus 1 is added tothe estimated position information on the mobile terminal 2 side. Thatis, the estimated position information notifying unit 25 adds the dateand time information at the time of reception of the beacon ID to theestimated position information per read beacon ID. In addition, thecorrection information or the like for the position maybe added to thebeacon ID of the estimated position information. For example, theestimated position information notifying unit 25, when receiving thebeacon ID from the second communicating unit 24, acquires informationindicating the received electromagnetic wave strength of the receivedbeacon signal from the Bluetooth communicating circuit 210. Theestimated position information notifying unit 25 estimates the distanceto the beacon device 3 from the acquired information indicating thereceived electromagnetic wave strength and adds the correctioninformation for the position to the beacon ID. In the server apparatus1, the position of the mobile terminal 2 is corrected based on thecorrection information.

The viewer unit 26 analyzes screen information for using the storesearch service and displays image data of the screen information on thescreen display unit 22. The viewer unit 26 switches screens inaccordance of reception from the input receiving unit 21 or instructsthe first communicating unit 23 to transmit a request signal to theserver apparatus 1.

Data Configuration

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating one example of a storage areaconfiguration of a data portion of transmitted data that the estimatedposition information notifying unit 25 instructs the first communicatingunit 23 to transmit to the server apparatus 1. As illustrated in FIG.11, a data portion D1 has storage areas of request information d1, abeacon ID d2, correction information d3, date and time information d4,and the like.

FIGS. 12A to 12D are diagrams illustrating one example of storage areaconfigurations of data portions of the transmitted data that the viewerunit 26 instructs the first communicating unit 23 to transmit to theserver apparatus 1. FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D are diagramsrespectively illustrating one example of storage area configurations ofdata portions of the transmitted data in the case of making a requestfor the movement line data, a request for a store list, a request forsearching by keyword, and a request for shortest route display as a “wayguidance request”.

A data portion D2 illustrated in FIG. 12A has storage areas of therequest information d1, date and time specification information d11, andthe like. A data portion D3 illustrated in FIG. 12B has a storage areaof the request information d1. A data portion D4 illustrated in FIG. 12Chas storage areas of the request information d1, search information d21,and the like. A data portion D5 illustrated in FIG. 12D has storageareas of the request information d1, store position information d31, andthe like.

Operation of Entire System

In operating the system, a manager or the like of the system receivesonline or offline registrations from the store side and sets varioustables of the server apparatus 1 based on the registration information.

For example, in the case of providing online registration on the storeside, the manager publishes a registration site on the Internet. Thestore side specifies a URL in a client terminal of the store to accessthe registration site. The store side applies for registration bytransmitting application information to the registration site from theclient terminal.

The registration site issues an account of the applying store inaccordance with the application content and adds a record of theapplying store to the position information conversion table T2, thestore information table T4, the merchandise information table T5, andthe like. For example, the registration site adds, to the positioninformation conversion table T2, a record that includes the positioninformation and the beacon ID of the beacon device 3 installed by theapplying store. In addition, the registration site adds, to the storeinformation table T4, a record that includes the store information andthe like of the applying store. In addition, the registration site adds,to the merchandise information table T5, a record of merchandise sold bythe applying store. The registration site receives the added informationfrom the client terminal of the store when an application procedure isperformed.

The registration site connects to an email server through a network totransmit in response the account information of the applying store byemail to the mobile terminal or the like on the applying store side.

If there is a movement or an increase in number of the beacon device 3,an update of the store information or the merchandise information, orthe like after registration, the store side accesses the registrationsite by using the account information of the response and requestsupdates of information at any time.

The manager or the like of the system distributes the store searchapplication to the mobile terminal 2 online, offline, or in the form ofpre-installation. If the store search application is distributedoffline, the store search application is distributed through media suchas a CD, a DVD, and an SD card, and the user of the mobile terminal 2copies the store search application from the media to the flash ROM 203.In addition, if the store search application is distributed online, alink is added to the registration site, and the mobile terminal 2downloads the store search application to the flash ROM 203 from anassignment place specified at the destination of the link of theregistration site.

Sequence of Accumulating Estimated Position

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between eachdevice of the guidance system 100 in the case of accumulating theestimated position of the mobile terminal 2 in the server apparatus 1.First, the mobile terminal 2 launches the store search application andinitiates reception of the beacon signal (S1).

Next, if the mobile terminal 2 enters the transmission range of thebeacon signal of the beacon device 3, the mobile terminal 2 receives thebeacon signal from the beacon device 3, the transmission range of whichincludes the position of the mobile terminal 2 (S2).

Next, the mobile terminal 2 establishes communication with the serverapparatus 1 and transmits, to the server apparatus 1, an estimatedposition information registration signal that includes the beacon ID andthe like of the beacon signal (S3). In the present embodiment, themobile terminal 2 includes the beacon ID of the beacon signal and thedate and time information at the time of reception of the beacon signalin the estimated position information registration signal.

If the server apparatus 1 receives the estimated position informationregistration signal from the mobile terminal 2, the server apparatus 1adds, to the movement line data management table T1 of the mobileterminal 2, a record that correlates the date and time information ofthe estimated position information registration signal with theestimated position information (S4).

Each time the mobile terminal 2 enters the transmission ranges of eachbeacon device 3 dotted on the path by movement of the service userafterward, processing proceeds in the flow of Step S2 to Step S4.

Establishment and disconnection of communication between the mobileterminal 2 and the server apparatus 1 may be appropriately set in such amanner that communication is disconnected each time the mobile terminal2 transmits the estimated position information registration signal or inthe case of the server apparatus 1 not receiving a signal from themobile terminal 2 for a certain amount of time after establishment ofcommunication.

The mobile terminal 2 terminates reception of the beacon signal byterminating the store search application during movement in thecommercial facility U or at an exit of the commercial facility U (S5).

Process Flow of Mobile Terminal 2 in Sequence of Accumulating EstimatedPosition

Next, a process in the mobile terminal 2 in the case of accumulating theestimated position of the mobile terminal 2 in the server apparatus 1will be described.

The CPU 201 of the mobile terminal 2, by supply of power, reads a baseprogram into the RAM 202 and executes the base program to realize theinput receiving unit 21, the screen display unit 22, the firstcommunicating unit 23, the second communicating unit 24, and the like.The screen display unit 22 displays a home screen on the display 250.

Furthermore, the user provides a launch input for the store searchapplication by providing a touch input or the like on an icon on thehome screen. Then, the input receiving unit 21 receives the launchinput, and the CPU 201 reads a program of the store search applicationinto the RAM 202 and executes the program to realize the estimatedposition information notifying unit 25, the viewer unit 26, and thelike. The screen display unit 22 displays a top screen (refer to a topscreen G1 in FIG. 22) of the store search application on the display250.

Furthermore, if the input receiving unit 21 receives an input specifyinginitiation of a position information notification process from the topscreen (e.g., an input on an “initiate notification” button B3 in FIG.22), the CPU 201 executes a process flow illustrated below.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating one example of a process flow of theposition information notification process by the CPU 201. First, the CPU201 (in particular, the second communicating unit 24) determines whetheror not the Bluetooth communicating circuit 210 receives a signal (S201).

In the case of the Bluetooth communicating circuit 210 receiving asignal (S201: Yes determination), the CPU 201 (in particular, theestimated position information notifying unit 25) receives, from theBluetooth communicating circuit 210, data that is superimposed on thesignal. The CPU 201 (in particular, the estimated position informationnotifying unit 25) determines whether or not the data portion of thereceived data includes the beacon ID of the present service (S202).

For example, consider the case of the beacon device 3 transmitting thebeacon ID that is coded by a predetermined method. In this case, the CPU201 (in particular, the estimated position information notifying unit25) decodes the information of the data portion by a methodcorresponding to the coding method and determines the post-decoding datato be equal to the beacon ID of the present service in the case of thepost-decoding data complying with a certain format (Step S202: Yesdetermination). Meanwhile, in the case of the post-decoding data notcomplying with a certain format, the CPU 201 (in particular, theestimated position information notifying unit 25) determines thepost-decoding data not to be equal to the beacon ID of the presentservice (S202: No determination) and discards the received data (S203).After the process of Step S203, the processes from Step S201 arerepeated.

In the case of a Yes determination in Step S202, the CPU 201 (inparticular, the estimated position information notifying unit 25) storesthe current date and time information, the beacon ID, and the like inthe data portion D1 (refer to FIG. 11) and generates transmitted data(S204).

Next, the CPU 201 (in particular, the first communicating unit 23)transmits the transmitted data to the server apparatus 1 through acommunicating circuit that is currently selected (e.g., the Wi-Ficommunicating circuit 211 or the mobile communicating circuit 212)(S205). The CPU 201 (in particular, the first communicating unit 23)establishes communication connection with the server apparatus 1 at thetime of transmission of the transmitted data and disconnectscommunication after completion of registration in the server apparatus1.

After the process of Step S205, the CPU 201 repeats the processes fromStep S201.

Disconnection of communication maybe performed at a timing beforecompletion of registration if registration of the estimated positioninformation is guaranteed. In addition, the server apparatus 1 maydisconnect communication connection in the case of the server apparatus1, after completion of registration, maintaining communicationconnection for a certain amount of time and having no request forregistration of the estimated position information from the mobileterminal 2 until elapsing of the certain amount of time.

In the case of a No determination in Step S201, the CPU 201 (inparticular, the input receiving unit 21) determines whether or not aterminate input for the position information notification process (e.g.,an input on a “terminate notification” button B4 in FIG. 22) is provided(S206). In the case of a terminate input being provided (S206: Yesdetermination), the CPU 201 terminates the position informationnotification process. Meanwhile, in the case of a terminate input notbeing provided (S206: No determination), the CPU 201 repeats theprocesses from Step S201.

Process Flow of Server Apparatus 1 in Sequence of Accumulating EstimatedPosition

Next, a process in the server apparatus 1 in the case of accumulatingthe estimated position of the mobile terminal 2 in the server apparatus1 will be described. The CPU 101 (in particular, the communicating unit10), if receiving a connection request signal of the mobile terminal 2by the NIC 106, establishes communication with the mobile terminal 2through the NIC 106. The CPU 101 (in particular, the communicating unit10), if further receiving a transmitted signal from the mobile terminal2 by the NIC 106, reads the information of the transmitted signal, callsthe assignment processing unit 11, and causes the assignment processingunit 11 to perform various service processes. The CPU 101 (inparticular, the assignment processing unit 11) manages sessioninformation per mobile terminal 2 that makes a request, and controlsprocesses in accordance with the request content of the received data.In an accumulation process for the estimated position described here,the CPU 101 (in particular, the assignment processing unit 11) controlsprocesses for the estimated position information registering unit 13.The CPU 101 (in particular, the communicating unit 10) disconnectscommunication with the mobile terminal 2 by receiving a disconnectionrequest signal from the mobile terminal 2 by the NIC 106 or elapsing ofa preset time limit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating one example of a process flow of anestimated position information registration process by the CPU 101. Theassignment processing unit 11 is assumed to receive and pass data witheach functional unit, though not particularly illustrated below.

First, the CPU 101 (in particular, the estimated position informationregistering unit 13) determines whether or not the movement line datamanagement table T1 of a transmitter of the transmitted data isgenerated (S101). In the present embodiment, identification informationof the transmitter is set in the table name of the movement line datamanagement table T1. Therefore, the CPU 101 (in particular, theestimated position information registering unit 13) performs thedetermination by reading an IP address, a MAC address, or the likestored in a header of the transmitted data and comparing theidentification information of the transmitter corresponding to the IPaddress, the MAC address, or the like with the table name set in themovement line data management table T1.

In the case of the movement line data management table T1 of thetransmitter being generated (S101: Yes determination), the CPU 101 (inparticular, the estimated position information registering unit 13)registers the estimated position information of the transmitted data inthe movement line data management table T1 of the transmitter (S102). Inthe present embodiment, the CPU 101 (in particular, the estimatedposition information registering unit 13) references the positioninformation conversion table T2 (refer to FIG. 6) and converts theinformation of the beacon ID d2 of the data portion D1 (refer to FIG.11) of the transmitted data into position information. The CPU 101 (inparticular, the estimated position information registering unit 13)registers the converted position information in the movement line datamanagement table T1 in correlation with the information of the date andtime information d4 of the data portion D1. In the case of thecorrection information d3 of the data portion D1 storing information,the CPU 101 (in particular, the estimated position informationregistering unit 13) uses a position corrected with the correctioninformation in registration instead of the above converted positioninformation.

In the case of the movement line data management table T1 of thetransmitter not being generated (S101: No determination), the CPU 101(in particular, the estimated position information registering unit 13)generates the movement line data management table T1 of the transmitter(S103). The CPU 101 (in particular, the estimated position informationregistering unit 13) transitions to Step S102 and registers theestimated position information of the transmitted data in the movementline data management table T1 of the transmitter.

Sequence of Store Searching

Next, the case of the mobile terminal 2 using the store search serviceof the server apparatus 1 will be described.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between eachdevice of the guidance system 100 in the case of the mobile terminal 2searching for a store by list. First, the mobile terminal 2 displays thetop screen (S11).

Next, the mobile terminal 2, by receiving an operational input forrequesting the movement line data, establishes communication with theserver apparatus 1 and transmits a movement line data request signal tothe server apparatus 1 (S12).

The server apparatus 1, if receiving the movement line data requestsignal transmitted by the mobile terminal 2, generates screeninformation indicating the line of movement (in particular, the movementline screen information) (S13) and transmits the screen information tothe mobile terminal 2 of the requester (S14).

The mobile terminal 2 displays a movement line screen based on themovement line screen information transmitted by the server apparatus 1(S15). Furthermore, the mobile terminal 2, in Step S15, displays asearch screen by appropriately switching screens in accordance with anoperational input.

Next, the mobile terminal 2, by receiving an operational input forrequesting a store list, transmits a store list request signal to theserver apparatus 1 (S16).

The server apparatus 1, if receiving the store list request signaltransmitted by the mobile terminal 2, generates screen informationindicating a store list (S17) and transmits the screen information tothe mobile terminal 2 of the requester (S18). In the present embodiment,the server apparatus 1 is assumed to also transmit the store informationof each store of the listed stores to the mobile terminal 2 of therequester along with the store list screen information.

The mobile terminal 2 displays a store list screen based on the storelist screen information transmitted by the server apparatus 1 (S19).Furthermore, the mobile terminal 2, in Step S19, displays a storeinformation screen for a store selected from the store list screen.

Next, the mobile terminal 2, by receiving an operational input forrequesting the shortest route, transmits a shortest route request signalto the server apparatus 1 (S20).

The server apparatus 1, if receiving the shortest route request signaltransmitted by the mobile terminal 2, generates screen informationindicating the shortest route based on the request information (S21) andtransmits the screen information to the mobile terminal 2 of therequester (S22).

The mobile terminal 2 displays a shortest route screen based on theshortest route screen information transmitted by the server apparatus 1(S23).

Then, the mobile terminal 2, by an operational input, again displays ascreen for requesting screen information from the server apparatus 1and, if receiving an operational input on the screen, repeats theprocedure from Step S12, Step S16, or Step S20 corresponding to theoperational input.

Then, the mobile terminal 2, if receiving an operational input forterminating use of the store search service, disconnects communicationestablished with the server apparatus 1 and displays a screen based onthe operational input (S24). For example, the mobile terminal 2 displaysthe home screen in the case of receiving an operational input forterminating the store search application. As another example, the mobileterminal 2 displays the top screen of the store search application inthe case of receiving an operational input for terminating the storesearch service.

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between eachdevice of the guidance system 100 in the case of the mobile terminal 2searching for a store by keyword. Hereinafter, different parts from thesequence diagram of FIG. 16 will be described.

The mobile terminal 2, in Step S15, displays the movement line screenand displays a keyword input screen by further switching screens inaccordance with an operational input. The mobile terminal 2, ifreceiving a keyword and a request for searching with the keyword on thekeyword input screen, includes the keyword in a keyword search requestsignal and transmits the keyword search request signal to the serverapparatus 1 (S16-1).

The server apparatus 1, based on the keyword search request signaltransmitted by the mobile terminal 2, generates screen information for arelevant store (S17-1) and transmits the screen information to themobile terminal 2 of the requester (S18-1). In the present embodiment,the server apparatus 1 is assumed to also transmit store informationindicating detailed information of each candidate store to the mobileterminal 2 of the requester along with the candidate screen information.

The mobile terminal 2 displays a candidate screen based on the candidatescreen information transmitted by the server apparatus 1 (S19-1).Furthermore, the mobile terminal 2, in Step S19-1, displays the storeinformation screen for a store selected from the candidate screen.

Then, the procedure of the mobile terminal 2 is the same as theprocedure from Step S20 in FIG. 16.

Process Flow of Server Apparatus 1 in Sequence of Store Searching

Next, a service process of the server apparatus 1 in the case of themobile terminal 2 using the store search service of the server apparatus1 will be described. The service process of the server apparatus 1 isperformed under control of the assignment processing unit 11 describedin the estimated position information registration process in FIG. 15and acquires screen information to be transmitted to the mobile terminal2. The CPU 101 (in particular, the communicating unit 10) receives thescreen information and transmits in response the screen information tothe mobile terminal 2 through the NIC 106.

FIG. 18 to FIG. 21 are diagrams illustrating one example of flows ofvarious service processes. Hereinafter, the process flows in eachdrawing will be described, assuming that the assignment processing unit11 receives and passes data with each functional unit, though notparticularly described in each drawing.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus 1 receiving a movement line data request signal. First, theCPU 101 (in particular, the time-series data extracting unit 14)extracts time-series data from the movement line data management tableT1 of the transmitter (S111).

Specifically, the CPU 101 (in particular, the time-series dataextracting unit 14) reads an IP address, a MAC address, or the likestored in a header of the received data and specifies the movement linedata management table T1 of the transmitter based on the identificationinformation of the transmitter corresponding to the IP address, the MACaddress, or the like. The CPU 101 (in particular, the time-series dataextracting unit 14) extracts time-series data on the current date fromthe movement line data management table T1.

The CPU 101 (in particular, the time-series data extracting unit 14), inthe case of date and time information being stored in the date and timespecification information d11 of the data portion D2 (refer to FIG. 12)of the received data, extracts time-series data of the date and timeindicated by the date and time information. For example, assume that arange from “2015. 11. 11. 5:00 p.m.” to “2015. 11. 11. 6:00 p.m.” isspecified as the date and time specification information. In this case,the CPU 101 (in particular, the time-series data extracting unit 14)sets records of the date and time information 501 of the movement linedata management table T1 relevant to the specified range as anextraction range for the time-series data.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the map data extracting unit 15)extracts, from the map information table T3 (refer to FIG. 7), map datathat includes a position specified by the estimated position informationof the time-series data extracted by the time-series data extractingunit 14 (S112). In the present embodiment, the minimum area of the mapdata including all positions is extracted by comparing the range of thearea specified in the area selection information 701 of the mapinformation table T3 with the positions specified by each estimatedposition information of the time-series data.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the movement line generating unit 16)generates movement line data based on the time-series data extracted bythe time-series data extracting unit 14 (S113). For example, the CPU 101(in particular, the movement line generating unit 16) generates movementline data from the starting position to the end position of thetime-series data by interpolating, in the time-series order, straightline data between each estimated position information in the time-seriesorder.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the screen information generating unit12) generates, as the screen information, an image or the like in whichthe movement line data and the map data are combined (S114).

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus 1 receiving a store list request signal. First, the CPU 101(in particular, the movement range specifying unit 17), based on eachestimated position information of the time-series data extracted by thetime-series data extracting unit 14, calculates the range specificationinformation that sets an area along the path connecting each estimatedposition as a movement range (S121).

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the store information extracting unit18) extracts all relevant stores with the range specificationinformation calculated by the movement range specifying unit 17 as asearch condition (S122). Specifically, the CPU 101 (in particular, thestore information extracting unit 18) searches for a store in the areaindicated by the range specification information from the store positioninformation 802 of the store information table T4. For example, assumethat the range specification information is information that indicatesthe distance from the estimated position. In this case, a store forwhich the position information of the store position information 802 iswithin the distance from the estimated position is regarded as being inthe area indicated by the range specification information, and the storeinformation indicating the store is extracted.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the screen information generating unit12) generates screen information of the store list screen illustrating alist of the stores extracted by the store information extracting unit 18or screen information of the store information screen illustratingdetailed information per store (S123).

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus 1 receiving a keyword search request signal. First, the CPU101 (in particular, the movement range specifying unit 17), based oneach estimated position information of the time-series data extracted bythe time-series data extracting unit 14, calculates the rangespecification information that sets an area along the path connectingeach estimated position as a movement range (S121).

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the store information extracting unit18) extracts relevant stores with the range specification informationcalculated by the movement range specifying unit 17 and the searchinformation included in the keyword search request signal as searchconditions (S132).

Specifically, the CPU 101 (in particular, the store informationextracting unit 18) searches for a store in the area indicated by therange specification information from the store position information 802of the store information table T4 and extracts the store information ofthe store. Furthermore, the CPU 101 (in particular, the storeinformation extracting unit 18) performs searching with the searchinformation (e.g., the keyword or the like) in the merchandiseinformation table T5 (refer to FIG. 9) that corresponds to the store IDof any extracted store. The search information is information that isstored in the search information d21 of the data portion D4 (refer toFIG. 12) of the keyword search request signal. If the searchinggenerates a hit in the target merchandise information table T5, the CPU101 (in particular, the store information extracting unit 18) confirmspreviously extracted store information of the store ID of the table nameas the store information of the candidate stores.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the screen information generating unit12) generates screen information of a search result screen illustratingthe candidate stores confirmed by the store information extracting unit18 or screen information of the store information screen illustratingdetailed information of the candidate stores (S133).

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus 1 receiving a shortest route request signal. First, the CPU101 (in particular, the shortest route finding unit 19) finds theshortest route to the position indicated by the store positioninformation included in the shortest route request signal (S141).

For example, the CPU 101 (in particular, the shortest route finding unit19) sets the estimated position information of the last time-series dataextracted by the time-series data extracting unit 14 to a starting pointas a current place and finds the shortest route from the starting pointto the position indicated by the store position information. The storeposition information is stored in the store position information d31 ofthe data portion D5 (FIG. 12) of the shortest route request signal.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the screen information generating unit12) generates, as the screen information, an image in which datarepresenting the shortest route and the map data are combined (S142).

Process Flow of Mobile Terminal 2

Next, a process in the mobile terminal 2 in accordance with the screenflow of the store search application of the mobile terminal 2 will bedescribed. The mobile terminal 2 performs a launch process for the storeapplication by executing the store search application downloaded to theflash ROM 203 and displays the top screen on the display. Then, themobile terminal 2 receives a touch input on a button from the user(e.g., service user) and switches display screens or accesses the serverapparatus 1 in accordance with the input. The mobile terminal 2, in thecase of accessing the server apparatus 1, receives the screeninformation transmitted in response by the server apparatus 1 andupdates the display screen of the display based on the received screeninformation.

FIG. 22 to FIG. 25 are diagrams illustrating one example of screenconfigurations and a screen flow of each screen used in the store searchapplication. A top screen G1 illustrated in FIG. 22 has a “confirm lineof movement of today” button B1, a “confirm past line of movement”button B2, the “initiate notification” button B3, the “terminatenotification” button B4, a “terminate” button B5, and the like.

The “confirm line of movement of today” button B1 is an operation buttonfor instructing the viewer unit 26 to display the line of movement oftoday. The “confirm past line of movement” button B2 is an operationbutton for instructing the viewer unit 26 to display the past line ofmovement. The “terminate” button B5 is an operation button forinstructing the viewer unit 26 to terminate the store searchapplication. The “terminate” button B5 is also disposed in each screendescribed later.

The “initiate notification” button B3 and the “terminate notification”button B4 are respectively operation buttons for instructing theestimated position information notifying unit 25 to initiatenotification of the estimated position of the mobile terminal 2 to theserver apparatus 1 and to terminate initiated notification.

If a touch input is provided on the “confirm line of movement of today”button B1, the viewer unit 26 acquires, by communication, the movementline screen information indicating the line of movement of the currentdate and displays a movement line screen G2. Meanwhile, if a touch inputis provided on the “confirm past line of movement” button B2, the viewerunit 26 displays an input form screen and receives input of a specifieddate and time.

In an input form screen G1-1 illustrated in FIG. 22, an input box C1 forthe starting date and time and an input box C2 for the end date and timeare disposed so that the user can specify any period. If a touch inputis provided on a “transmit” button B6, the viewer unit 26 acquires, bycommunication, the movement line screen information indicating the lineof movement in the range of the period specified by the starting dateand time of the input box C1 and the end date and time of the input boxC2 and displays the movement line screen G2 that includes the line ofmovement. A “return” button B7 of the input form screen G1-1 is anoperation button for instructing the viewer unit 26 to return to themost previous display screen. The “return” button B7 is alsoappropriately disposed in other screens described later.

The movement line screen G2 illustrated in FIG. 22 has a map displayarea E1 displaying the line of movement of the requested date (or thespecified date and time) and the map data of the line of movement, a“next” button B8, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the map display area E1 displays an imagethat is generated in the server apparatus 1 by combining the line ofmovement on the map data. The movement line screen G2 illustrated inFIG. 22 represents a simple display example illustrating the estimatedposition of the service user in the transmission area of the beaconsignal by a black circle mark r and illustrating the line of movementconnecting each estimated position in the time-series order by a dottedline 1. A shaded rectangle R illustrates one store. In addition, a map Mthat includes each store and a passage L along the stores is the minimumrange of the map including the line of movement (represented by dottedline 1) that is selected by the server apparatus 1.

The “next” button B8 is an operation button for instructing the viewerunit 26 to use store searching. If a touch input is provided on the“next” button B8, the viewer unit 26 displays a screen for selecting amethod of store searching.

A search method selection screen G3 illustrated in FIG. 23 has a“display list” button B9, a “search by keyword” button B10, and thelike. The “display list” button B9 is an operation button forinstructing the viewer unit 26 to display the store list of the storeson the line of movement. The “search by keyword” button B10 is anoperation button for instructing the viewer unit 26 to display a store,of the stores on the line of movement, relevant to a keyword.

If a touch input is provided on the “display list” button B9, the viewerunit 26 acquires the store list screen information by communication withthe server apparatus 1 and displays a store list screen G4. Meanwhile,if a touch input is provided on the “search by keyword” button B10, theviewer unit 26 displays an input form screen for a keyword and receivesinput of a keyword.

An input form screen G4-1 for a keyword illustrated in FIG. 24 has aninput box C3 for a keyword, the “transmit” button B6, and the like. Aninput method for a keyword may be appropriately set. For example, onekeyword may be input in the input box C3. Alternatively, a plurality ofkeywords may be input, and each keyword may be connected by searchcondition information such as “AND” and “OR”. In addition, a pluralityof input boxes may be disposed, and input keywords of each input box maybe correlated with AND searching or OR searching.

If a touch input is provided on the “transmit” button B6, the viewerunit 26 acquires, by communication with the server apparatus 1, thecandidate screen information for stores relevant to the input keywordand displays a candidate screen G4-2.

The store list screen G4 illustrated in FIG. 24 has a store list E2, a“select” button B11 per store on the store list E2, and the like. Thestore list E2 displays simple store information of each store on theline of movement. For example, one or a plurality of pieces ofinformation, of the store name, the position information, and theobjective information included in the store information, that ispreviously set by the user or the like is displayed. In FIG. 24, thename of a sold item that is one objective information is displayed as anexample. If a touch input is provided on the “select” button B11 of onestore on the store list E2, the viewer unit 26 displays a storeinformation screen G5 that displays detailed information of the storefor which the touch input is provided.

The candidate screen G4-2 illustrated in FIG. 24 has the store list E2of stores that are further narrowed by the keyword, the “select” buttonB11 per store on the store list E2, and the like. The store list E2displays simple store information of stores, of the stores on the lineof movement, narrowed by the keyword. If a touch input is provided onthe “select” button B11 of one store on the store list E2, the viewerunit 26 displays the store information screen G5 for the store.

The store information screen G5 illustrated in FIG. 24 has detailedinformation E3 of the store, a “shortest route” button B12, and thelike. The detailed information E3 of the store displays the storeinformation of the selected store (for example, an image displaying asummary of the store or an item image corresponding to the keyword inthe case of item images being registered). The “shortest route” buttonB12 is an operation button for instructing the viewer unit 26 to displaythe shortest route information to the store. If a touch input isprovided on the “shortest route” button B12, the viewer unit 26 acquiresthe shortest route information by communication with the serverapparatus 1 and displays a shortest route screen G6.

The shortest route screen G6 illustrated in FIG. 25 has a map displayarea E4 that displays map data illustrating the shortest route, and thelike.

In the present embodiment, the map display area E4 displays an imagethat is generated in the server apparatus 1 by combining the shortestroute on the map data. The shortest route screen G6 illustrated in FIG.25 represents a simple display example illustrating the final positionof the service user on the line of movement by a black circle mark r1,illustrating the destination of the service user by a star mark r2, andillustrating the shortest route from the final position to thedestination by a dotted line 11.

As described heretofore, the server apparatus 1 as the informationprocessing apparatus according to the present embodiment functions as aninput section that receives input of information related to service, bythe communicating unit 10 that receives information related to servicefrom the mobile terminal 2, the assignment processing unit 11 thatreceives the request content of the received data, and the like.

By the time-series data extracting unit 14 that extracts the time-seriesdata of the mobile terminal from the movement line data management tableT1, the map data extracting unit 15 that extracts the map data of thearea indicated by the time-series data from the map information tableT3, the movement range specifying unit 17 that specifies the movementrange of the mobile terminal 2 from the time-series data and the mapdata, the store information extracting unit 18 that extracts theposition information of a store included in the movement range from thestore information table T4, and the like, the server apparatus 1functions as a specification processing section.

By the screen information generating unit 12 that generates screeninformation including the position information of the store, thecommunicating unit 10 that transmits the screen information to themobile terminal 2 of the requester, and the like, the server apparatus 1functions as an output section that outputs the position information ofthe store specified by the specification processing section.

By the store information extracting unit 18 that, in the case of thedata received from the mobile terminal 2 including search information,searches in the merchandise information table T5 of each store ID andextracts the store ID including merchandise relevant to the searchinformation, and the like, the server apparatus 1 functions as anextraction processing section.

By the shortest route finding unit 19 that finds the shortest route fromthe estimated position of the service user at the time of storesearching to a desired store, and the like, the server apparatus 1functions as a way guidance information processing section.

By the estimated position information registering unit 13 and the like,the server apparatus 1 functions as a registration processing section.In addition, by the movement line data management table T1, the positioninformation conversion table T2, and the like, the server apparatus 1has a storage unit that stores the estimated position informationregistered by the registration processing section in correlation withthe time-series order information.

By the second communicating unit 24 that reads the beacon ID transmittedfrom the beacon device 3, the estimated position information notifyingunit 25 that notifies the server apparatus 1 of the read beacon ID, andthe like, the mobile terminal 2 according to the present embodimentfunctions as a generating section.

By the first communicating unit 23, the viewer unit 26, and the like,the mobile terminal 2 functions as a first transmitting section, asecond transmitting section, and a first receiving section.

By the input receiving unit 21 and the like, the mobile terminal 2functions as a search information input section.

By the screen display unit 22, the viewer unit 26, and the like, themobile terminal 2 functions as a display section.

The present embodiment illustrates a guidance system in a commercialfacility and, as one example, illustrates the mobile terminal 2 asreceiving the beacon ID from the beacon device 3 installed at each placeand generating information related to the position thereof from thebeacon ID. However, the manner that the mobile terminal 2 generates theposition information thereof is not limited thereto. Changes may be madein such a manner that the mobile terminal 2 can receive positioninformation from the GPS outdoors. In addition, in the case of not beingable to receive position information from the GPS, the mobile terminal 2may be changed to generate position information from geomagnetic data.

For example, a GPS unit, a three-axis magnetic sensor or a three-axisacceleration sensor for implementing self-contained pedestriannavigation, or the like is disposed in the mobile terminal 2. The mobileterminal 2, in the case of being able to receive position informationfrom the GPS, receives position information by the GPS unit andgenerates the time-series data by using the position information or thetime of reception. In addition, the mobile terminal 2, in the case ofnot being able to receive a signal from the GPS, monitors an outputsignal that is output at all times by the three-axis magnetic sensor orthe three-axis acceleration sensor, and generates the time-series datawith the last position information received from the GPS as a startingpoint.

As another example, an atmospheric pressure sensor is disposed in themobile terminal 2. In addition, a positioning database that correlatesposition information with information indicating the altitudinalposition of the place is disposed in the server apparatus 1. The mobileterminal 2 measures the altitudinal position of the mobile terminalduring movement by the output of the atmospheric pressure sensor andtransmits information indicating the altitudinal position, the time ofposition measurement, the terminal ID, and the like to the serverapparatus 1. The server apparatus 1 references the position measurementdatabase and acquires position information that corresponds to theinformation indicating the altitudinal position received from the mobileterminal 2. The server apparatus 1 accumulates the acquired positioninformation as the estimated position information of the mobile terminal2 and manages the time-series data.

Besides, as other positioning methods, Wi-Fi positioning, mobile phonebase station positioning, sonic positioning, Bluetooth positioning,visible light positioning, camera image positioning, and the like may beappropriately applied. In addition, various types of positioning may beapplied in a combined manner.

While the present embodiment illustratively illustrates store searchingas one example of place searching, the place of a searching target isnot limited to a store. The place of a searching target may be anypublic place of which the position is open to the public. For example,the public place may include not only stores providing merchandise orservice but also parks, facilities, famous places, and the like. Inaddition, the public place is not limited to a place having a fixedposition and may be a place having a changing position.

For example, the public place having a changing position may includeplaces of blood donation, leaflet distribution, busking, and the like.In this case, the mobile terminal 2 is carried by a person who providesservice such as blood donation, leaflet distribution, or busking in thepublic place having a changing position. In this mobile terminal 2, aregistration request for the position information in the time-seriesdata is changed to an update request for the position information of thepublic place in a transmission process of transmitting informationindicating a position to the server apparatus 1 after reception of abeacon signal. By this update request, the server apparatus 1 updates,with the received position information, the position information of thepublic place correlated with the identification information of themobile terminal 2.

While the present embodiment illustratively illustrates the case of ahuman being moving on foot, the store search service may be provided toa service user who moves by vehicle or the like such as a car. Forexample, the store search service may be provided in a car navigationsystem.

In addition, the predetermined range to which the estimated positionbelongs maybe set to any range, such as a range including stores linedup along a passage in the range of movement of the service user or arange including several stores outside of the passage.

While the present embodiment regards a person using the store searchservice as the “service user”, the “service user” is not limited to aperson registered in the present system. For example, the store searchservice may be widely provided to users other than the registeredperson.

The present embodiment describes the server apparatus 1 as havingvarious tables (e.g., the movement line data management table, theposition information conversion table, and the map information table,and the store information table, the merchandise information table, andthe like as correspondence information) and performing registration,extraction, and the like for each table. However, the configuration ofthe server apparatus 1 is not limited to this configuration. The serverapparatus 1 may be changed to include one or a plurality of varioustables in an external device and acquire data from the external device.For example, the server apparatus 1 may acquire the time-series data ofthe mobile terminal 2 provided by the external device and provide theabove store search service based on the acquired time-series data. Inaddition, the server apparatus 1 may acquire the predetermined range ofthe map data from a map database provided by the external device andprovide the above store search service based on the acquired map data.In addition, the server apparatus 1 may acquire the position informationof a store provided by the external device and provide the above storesearch service based on the acquired information.

While the present embodiment illustratively illustrates finding theshortest route with the final position of the service user on thetime-series data as a starting position, the present embodiment is notlimited thereto. For example, the server apparatus 1 may receiveinformation related to position from the mobile terminal 2 at the timeof store searching and find the shortest route with the estimatedposition as a starting position.

While the present embodiment illustratively illustrates the serverapparatus 1 as transmitting an image combined with the line of movementor the shortest route to the mobile terminal 2, the present embodimentis not limited thereto. A viewer that displays map data may be installedon the mobile terminal 2, receive the map data, the movement line data,or the shortest route data transmitted from the server apparatus 1, anddisplay the data on the mobile terminal 2 by managing the data inlayers.

The present embodiment, as one example, illustrates a flow of a seriesof processes in which the service user Q types search information suchas a store or merchandise that the service user Q remembers into themobile terminal 2 and acquires a search result for the position of thestore relevant to the search information from the server apparatus 1.However, the service user Q may use the present system to search for theposition of a store that is not known to be on the line of movement. Inthis case, even if the service user Q types search information into themobile terminal 2, the server apparatus 1 may not acquire a relevantstore. Therefore, in the case of such use, a notifying section that, inthe case of absence of the store relevant to the search information,notifies the mobile terminal 2 of the absence by screen information orthe like from the server apparatus 1 may be disposed.

By various configurations described heretofore, if the mobile terminal 2requests store searching, the mobile terminal 2 can acquire the positioninformation of a desired store within the range of movement thereof fromthe server apparatus 1. In addition, the mobile terminal 2, in the caseof transmitting search information, can acquire the position informationof a store relevant to the search condition within the range of movementthereof from the server apparatus 1. Even in the case of absence of astore relevant to the search information, the absence can be notifiedfrom the server apparatus 1 to the mobile terminal 2. Thus, the presenceor absence of the desired store within the range of movement of themobile terminal 2 can be recognized on the mobile terminal 2 side.

The mobile terminal 2, in the case of specifying generation of theshortest route, can acquire information indicating the shortest route tothe desired store from the server apparatus 1.

For example, assume that the service user during shopping recalls astore that is on the way passed. In this case, the service user, byrequesting the server apparatus 1 to perform store searching with themobile terminal 2 that the service user carries, can acquire theposition information of a store included in the range of movementthereof (e.g., a store and the like that is along the traveled path ofthe service user). Furthermore, by typing a keyword for merchandisecoming to mind into the mobile terminal 2 and transmitting the keywordto the server apparatus 1, the service user can acquire the positioninformation of a store, within the range of movement thereof, thathandles merchandise relevant to the keyword. The service user can returnto the desired store in accordance with the position information.Furthermore, if the user requests the shortest route, the shortest routeto the desired store is displayed on the mobile terminal 2, and theservice user can definitely return to the desired store in accordancewith the display.

Second Embodiment

An embodiment of providing the server apparatus 1 illustrated in thefirst embodiment by cloud computing such as platform as a service (PaaS)will be illustrated in a second embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of providing thefunctional units of the server apparatus 1 in a distributed manner in aplurality of server apparatuses.

The example illustrated in FIG. 26 illustrates a conceptual diagram ofthe case of implementing, as a group of relevant functional units, thecommunicating unit 10, the assignment processing unit 11, the screeninformation generating unit 12, the estimated position informationregistering unit 13, the time-series data extracting unit 14, the mapdata extracting unit 15, the movement line generating unit 16, themovement range specifying unit 17, the store information extracting unit18, the shortest route finding unit 19, and the like illustrated in FIG.4 on different server apparatuses.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 26, a server apparatus 1-1 implementsfunctional units of the communicating unit 10 and the assignmentprocessing unit 11 and manages various requests from the mobile terminal2, session information with the mobile terminal 2, information of anassignment destination, and the like. For example, the server apparatus1-1 manages various requests from the mobile terminal 2 by number andtransmits execution result information of a service process of a serverapparatus of an assignment destination to another server apparatus toacquire final result information such as screen information.

Other server apparatuses 1-2, 1-3, . . . , 1-8 execute service processesof the functional units implemented therein by request from theassignment processing unit 11 and transmit in response execution resultsto the assignment processing unit 11. For example, the server apparatus1-3 includes the movement line data management table T1 (refer to FIG.5) and the position information conversion table T2 (refer to FIG. 6)and performs a registration process for the time-series data in themovement line data management table T1, an extraction process for thetime-series data from the movement line data management table T1, andthe like. In addition, the server apparatus 1-4 includes the mapinformation table T3 and performs an extraction process for the mapdata, and the like. In addition, the server apparatus 1-7 includes thestore information table T4 and the merchandise information table T5 andperforms an extraction process for the store information, and the like.

The configuration in FIG. 26 illustrated as the second embodiment is oneexample of a provided embodiment, and the provided embodiment by cloudcomputing is not limited thereto. The provided embodiment may beappropriately changed if hardware resources, infrastructural resources,or software resources of the Internet N3 for providing an executionenvironment can be used. For example, the number of server apparatuses1-1, 1-2, . . . may be increased or decreased, and the combination offunctional units implemented in each of the server apparatuses 1-1, 1-2,. . . may be appropriately changed. In addition, each functional unitmay be further divided, and the divided functional units may beappropriately combined and implemented in the plurality of serverapparatuses 1-1, 1-2, . . . . In addition, changes may be made in such amanner that various tables T1 to T5 are disposed in a database serverapparatus so that each server apparatus references the tables in thedatabase server apparatus.

Third Embodiment

An embodiment in the case of disposing the server apparatus 1illustrated in the first embodiment per commercial facility will beillustrated in a third embodiment. Hereinafter, the same parts as thefirst embodiment will be designated by the same reference signs and willnot be described. Different parts from the first embodiment will bemainly described.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system 500 according to the third embodiment. The guidancesystem 500 illustrated in FIG. 27 has a server apparatus 5, a POSterminal 6, a wireless communicating device 7, the mobile terminal 2,and the beacon device 3. The server apparatus 5, the POS terminal 6, andthe wireless communicating device 7 are disposed in a local area network(LAN) N4 that is installed in one commercial facility U1. The POSterminal 6 is a point of sales (POS) terminal included in each store ofthe commercial facility U1. The POS terminal 6 includes a merchandiseinformation table of the store. The wireless communicating device 7 is awireless relay device that is disposed at each place in the commercialfacility U1 for allowing the mobile terminal 2 to access the serverapparatus 5. The mobile terminal 2 illustrated in the present embodimentis assumed to be, as one example, a wireless relay device that canperform wireless communication by Wi-Fi.

In the network configuration, the mobile terminal 2 in each transmissionarea of the beacon device 3 receives the beacon signal that is emittedby the beacon device 3. In addition, the mobile terminal 2 wirelesslyand communicably connects to the wireless communicating device 7 byWi-Fi and accesses the server apparatus 5 through the wirelesscommunicating device 7.

In the guidance system 500, the server apparatus 5, the POS terminal 6,and the mobile terminal 2 operate as follows.

The server apparatus 5, in the same manner as the server apparatus 1illustrated in the first embodiment, provides the store search serviceto the service user Q by access from the mobile terminal 2. However, theserver apparatus 5, in the case of narrowing stores with searchinformation such as a keyword, transmits the search information to eachPOS terminal 6 and causes each POS terminal 6 to perform merchandiseinquiry in the merchandise information table included in each POSterminal 6. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the merchandiseinformation table T5 (refer to FIG. 9) illustrated in the firstembodiment is replaced by the merchandise information table included ineach POS terminal 6.

If there is an inquiry request from the server apparatus 5, each POSterminal 6 performs an inquiry in the merchandise information tableincluded therein and notifies an inquiry result to the server apparatus5.

The mobile terminal 2 is approximately the same as the mobile terminal 2illustrated in the first embodiment except for transmitting the positioninformation of the beacon signal received from the beacon device 3 tothe server apparatus 5 through the wireless communicating device 7 andnot through the wireless base station 4 such as a mobile phone basestation or a Wi-Fi spot.

Specific Examples of Each Device

Configurations of each of the server apparatus 5 and the POS terminal 6according to the third embodiment will be described. The mobile terminal2 has the same configuration as the mobile terminal 2 illustrated in thefirst embodiment (refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 10) and thus will not bedescribed. In addition, the wireless communicating device 7 is a relaydevice that relays transferred data between the mobile terminal 2 andthe server apparatus 5. The wireless communicating device 7 performswireless communication with the mobile terminal 2 side and performsEthernet communication with the server apparatus 5 side by the LAN N4.The configuration of the wireless communicating device 7 is well knownand thus will not be described in detail.

First, a functional configuration of the server apparatus 5 will bedescribed. A hardware configuration of the server apparatus 5 isapproximately the same as the server apparatus 1 illustrated in thefirst embodiment except for storing, in the HDD, programs correspondingto the functional units according to the third embodiment and removingthe merchandise information table from the database of the HDD. Thus,refer to the hardware configuration diagram (FIG. 2) for the hardwareconfiguration of the server apparatus 5.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto the store search service of the server apparatus 5 according to thethird embodiment. FIG. 28 is acquired by replacing a part of thefunction of the store information extracting unit 18 as an inquiryexecuting unit 52 and adding a POS communicating unit 51 in thefunctional blocks of the server apparatus 1 illustrated in the firstembodiment (refer to FIG. 4). The server apparatus 5 implements eachfunctional unit illustrated in FIG. 28 by the CPU 101 in the hardwareconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 2 reading the corresponding programsin the ROM 102 or in the HDD 104 into the RAM 103 in order and executingthe corresponding programs.

The store information extracting unit 18, by request from the assignmentprocessing unit 11, extracts the store information (e.g., a store ID,store position information, store introduction information, an IPaddress as one example of a network address of the POS terminal 6, orthe like) of a relevant store from the store information table T4 withthe range specification information specified by the movement rangespecifying unit 17 as a condition. Furthermore, the store informationextracting unit 18, in the case of receiving search information such asa keyword in the request from the assignment processing unit 11,executes an inquiry process of the inquiry executing unit 52 after theextraction process for the store information.

The inquiry executing unit 52 stores the search information such as akeyword received by the store information extracting unit 18 in a dataportion of an inquiry request signal. The inquiry executing unit 52instructs the POS communicating unit 51 to transmit the inquiry requestsignal to the IP address of each POS terminal 6 of the stores in apredetermined area for which the store information is extracted by theextraction process. In addition, the inquiry executing unit 52 receives,from the POS communicating unit 51, inquiry result informationtransmitted in response by the POS terminal 6 and passes the receivedinquiry result information to the store information extracting unit 18.Accordingly, the store information extracting unit 18 confirms the storeof the POS terminal 6 having relevant merchandise from the inquiryresult information of each POS terminal 6.

The POS communicating unit 51 transmits the inquiry request signal tothe specified POS terminal 6 through the NIC 106 and reads, from the NIC106, the inquiry result information transmitted in response from the POSterminal 6.

While, as one example, the inquiry executing unit 52 is described asspecifying transmission of the inquiry request signal to the POSterminal 6 of the store in the predetermined area for which the storeinformation is extracted by the extraction process, the presentembodiment is not limited thereto. The inquiry executing unit 52 mayspecify transmission of the inquiry request signal to all POS terminals6 in the LAN N4. In this case, the store information extracting unit 18compares the store of the POS terminal 6 having relevant merchandise inthe inquiry result information of each POS terminal 6 with the storerelevant to the store information extracted by the extraction processand narrows stores down to the matching store.

Next, a configuration of the POS terminal 6 will be described. FIG. 29is a diagram illustrating one example of a hardware configuration of thePOS terminal 6. As illustrated in FIG. 29, the POS terminal 6 has a CPU301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, an HDD 304, a printer 305, a drawer 306, akeyboard 307, a display 308, a touch panel 309, a scanner 310, a cardreading device 311, an NIC 312, and the like. Each unit is mutuallyconnected by a bus 313. Each unit operates by receiving supply of powerfrom a power supply unit (not illustrated) such as a battery or an ACpower supply.

The CPU 301 executes operation processes and control processes for eachunit. The ROM 302 stores a fixed program such as a BIOS. The RAM 303 isused as a work area when the CPU 301 executes a program.

The HDD 304 stores various programs and various types of data. Variousprograms include an operating system (OS) that performs basicoperations, a driver that drives each unit, client software, databasesoftware, an application program, and the like. In addition, varioustypes of data include screen information, a data file of the merchandiseinformation table (refer to FIG. 9) of the store, a data file of aregistration/sales table, and the like.

The printer 305 prints print data on a receipt sheet.

The drawer 306 controls release of a drawer.

The keyboard 307 converts an input signal of a push key into apredetermined code and notifies the code to the CPU 301.

The display 308 displays a predetermined screen.

The touch panel 309 detects a touch input and notifies the touch inputto the CPU 301.

The scanner 310 reads a code symbol and notifies information of the codesymbol to the CPU 301.

The card reading device 311 reads card information from a credit card orthe like.

The NIC 312 is a controller that performs communication by Ethernet. TheNIC 312 performs data communication with the server apparatus 5, a storecomputer, a server of a card company, and the like.

Next, a functional configuration of the POS terminal 6 will bedescribed. The POS terminal 6 implements functions related tomerchandise registration, accounting, merchandise inquiry, and the likeby the CPU 301 reading various programs of the ROM 302 or the HDD 304into the RAM 303 in order and executing the programs.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto merchandise inquiry. As illustrated in FIG. 30, the POS terminal 6implements functions of a communicating unit 60, an inquiry unit 61, andthe like.

The communicating unit 60 establishes communication with the serverapparatus 5 through the NIC 312 and reads received data from the NIC 312and sends transmitted data such as the inquiry result information to theNIC 312.

The inquiry unit 61 uses search information included in the receiveddata read by the communicating unit 60 to perform an inquiry as towhether or not merchandise relevant to the search information isincluded in the merchandise information table T5 (refer to FIG. 9) ofthe HDD 304.

For example, assume that the search information includes “hat by brandL” that represents a merchandise name. In this case, the inquiry unit 61performs an inquiry as to whether or not there is a record relevant to“hat by brand L” in the merchandise name 903 of the merchandiseinformation table T5. In the present example, “hat by brand L” is set inthe merchandise name 903, and an inquiry result of a match can beacquired. While an inquiry result of a non-match is acquired if “hat bybrand L” is not set in the merchandise name 903, changes may be made todivide “hat by brand L” into “brand L” and “hat” so that an inquiryresult of a match is acquired in the case of existence of recordsincluding each keyword.

The inquiry unit 61 stores the inquiry result information in responsedata and instructs the communicating unit 60 to transmit the responsedata to the server apparatus 5.

The inquiry result information may include detailed information of hitmerchandise.

Data Configuration

FIGS. 31A and 31B are diagrams illustrating one example of storage areaconfigurations of data storage portions of the transmitted data of theserver apparatus 5 and the response data of the POS terminal 6.

FIG. 31A is a diagram illustrating one example of a storage areaconfiguration of a data portion of the transmitted data that the inquiryexecuting unit 52 of the server apparatus 5 instructs the POScommunicating unit 51 to transmit to the POS terminal 6. As illustratedin FIG. 31A, a data portion D6 has storage areas of the requestinformation d1, search information d41, and the like.

FIG. 31B is a diagram illustrating one example of a storage areaconfiguration of a data portion of the response data that the inquiryunit 61 of the POS terminal 6 instructs the communicating unit 60 totransmit in response to the server apparatus 5. As illustrated in FIG.31B, a data portion D7 has storage areas of the request information d1,inquiry result information d51, and the like.

Sequence of Store Searching

FIG. 32 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between eachdevice of the guidance system 500 in the case of the mobile terminal 2searching for a store by keyword. Hereinafter, different parts from thesequence diagram of the guidance system 100 according to the firstembodiment (refer to FIG. 17) will be mainly described.

The server apparatus 5, if receiving a keyword search request signalfrom the mobile terminal 2, stores the keyword in an inquiry requestsignal and transmits the inquiry request signal to the POS terminal 6 inthe predetermined area (S16-2).

Each POS terminal 6, if receiving the inquiry request signal, performsan inquiry in the merchandise information table thereof with thereceived keyword (S16-3). The POS terminal 6 notifies the inquiry resultto the server apparatus 5 (S16-4).

The server apparatus 5, based on the inquiry result from the POSterminal 6, generates screen information of a candidate store of thestores on the line of movement (S17-1) and transmits the screeninformation to the mobile terminal 2 of the requester (S18-1).

Process Flow of Server Apparatus 5 in Sequence of Store Searching

Next, a process flow of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus 5 according to the third embodiment receiving a keyword searchrequest signal will be described.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a service process in the case of the serverapparatus 5 receiving a keyword search request signal. First, the CPU101 (in particular, the movement range specifying unit 17), based oneach estimated position information of the time-series data extracted bythe time-series data extracting unit 14, calculates the rangespecification information that sets an area along the path connectingeach estimated position as a movement range (S121).

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the store information extracting unit18) extracts all relevant stores with the range specificationinformation calculated by the movement range specifying unit 17 as asearch condition (S122).

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the inquiry executing unit 52) stores,in a data portion of an inquiry request signal, search information suchas a keyword received from the store information extracting unit 18 andinstructs the POS communicating unit 51 to transmit the inquiry requestsignal to each POS terminal 6 of the stores in the predetermined areaextracted in Step S122 (S151).

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the POS communicating unit 51)generates and transmits an inquiry request signal to the IP addresses ofall POS terminals 6 specified by the inquiry executing unit 52 (S152).

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the POS communicating unit 51)receives inquiry result information from the transmission destination ofthe inquiry request signal (S153).

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the inquiry executing unit 52)receives the inquiry result information from the POS communicating unit51 and passes the received inquiry result information to the storeinformation extracting unit 18.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the store information extracting unit18) confirms the store of the POS terminal 6 having relevant merchandiseas a candidate store from the inquiry result information of each POSterminal 6 (S154).

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the screen information generating unit12) generates screen information of the search result screenillustrating the candidate stores confirmed by the store informationextracting unit 18 or screen information of the store information screenillustrating detailed information of the candidate stores (S155).

The server apparatus 5 as the information processing apparatus accordingto the present embodiment, mainly by the POS communicating unit 51 andthe like, functions as a transmitting section that transmits inquirydata as to search information to a device in a public place, and as areceiving section that receives inquiry result data transmitted inresponse from the device. In addition, by the inquiry executing unit 52and the like, the server apparatus 5 functions as an inquiry processingsection that specifies a device for which the search informationgenerates a hit.

The configuration described heretofore also enables the service user tospecify a desired store based on the latest merchandise information orthe like currently handled by the store. While the merchandiseinformation table is disposed in the HDD of the POS terminal in thepresent embodiment, the merchandise information table may be disposed ina server that is disposed in the store, such as a store server.Furthermore, the merchandise information table may be disposed in aserver on a cloud. In this case, the merchandise information table maybe disposed along with the position information of a store.

Fourth Embodiment

An embodiment in the case of the movement line data of the service useraccumulated in a server apparatus in one area being used in a serverapparatus in another area will be illustrated in a fourth embodiment.Hereinafter, with the commercial facility U1 illustrated in the thirdembodiment as the one area, the case of the movement line dataaccumulated in the server apparatus 5 being used in another commercialfacility will be illustratively described.

FIG. 34 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a serverapparatus of a guidance system 600 according to the fourth embodiment.As illustrated in FIG. 34, the guidance system 600 has an area serverapparatus 8 and a higher apparatus 9 as the server apparatus. The areaserver apparatus 8 is a server apparatus that manages each area disposedin the commercial facility U1, a commercial facility U2, . . . , andcorresponds to the server apparatus 5 illustrated in the thirdembodiment. In addition, the higher apparatus 9 is a server apparatusthat manages each area server apparatus 8, and is disposed in a LAN orthe like of a headquarter so as to be able to connect to LANs N4-1,N4-2, . . . of each area. The LAN of the headquarter and the LANs N4-1,N4-2, . . . of each area are connected by a wide area network (WAN) orthe like.

In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 34, the higher apparatus 9, byupload from the area server apparatus 8 or the like of each of the areasN4-1, N4-2, . . . , manages tables of all areas, for example, themovement line data management table T1, the position informationconversion table T2, the map information table T3, the store informationtable T4, and the merchandise information table T5.

If there is an update of data in the position information conversiontable T2, the map information table T3, the store information table T4,the merchandise information table T5, and the like, each area serverapparatus 8 notifies difference data to the higher apparatus 9 at nightor the like. In addition, each area server apparatus 8 notifies thetime-series data of the movement line data management table T1 to thehigher apparatus 9 at a predetermined timing. For example, each areaserver apparatus 8 notifies the time-series data to the higher apparatus9 at the timing of termination of the notification function of themobile terminal or in the case of absence of notification for positionregistration from the mobile terminal for a predetermined amount oftime.

The higher apparatus 9 distributes notification information H of allarea server apparatuses 8 to each area server apparatus 8 at the sametime and causes each area server apparatus 8 to set various tables forall areas.

The area server apparatus 8 includes a higher apparatus transmittingsection that transmits the time-series data stored in the movement linedata management table T1 to the higher apparatus 9, a higher apparatusreceiving section that receives the time-series data stored in themovement line data management table T1 of another area server apparatus8 from the higher apparatus 9, and the like. The higher apparatustransmitting section and the higher apparatus receiving section includethe communicating unit 10, the assignment processing unit 11, and thelike.

The area server apparatus 8 registers the time-series data received bythe higher apparatus receiving section in the movement line datamanagement table T1. Specifically, the assignment processing unit 11instructs the estimated position information registering unit 13 toregister the time-series data.

Accordingly, the service user can execute store searching in anotherarea by using the line of movement in a first area and confirminformation of a store in the first area in another area.

Fifth Embodiment

An embodiment in the case of the store search service of the serverapparatus 5 illustrated in the third embodiment being used by amultimedia terminal (e.g., kiosk terminal) disposed in a commercialfacility will be illustrated in a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system 700 according to the fifth embodiment. The guidancesystem 700 illustrated in FIG. 35 is acquired by disposing a multimediaterminal M1 in the guidance system 500 (refer to FIG. 27) illustrated inthe third embodiment.

The multimedia terminal M1 is disposed in a predetermined area in thecommercial facility U1 and is connected to the local area network (LAN)N4 by a LAN cable or the like. The multimedia terminal M1 providesvarious types of service such as sale of tickets and store searching tothe service user Q of the commercial facility U1.

Hardware Configuration of Multimedia Terminal M1

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of the multimedia terminal M1. As illustrated in FIG. 36,the multimedia terminal M1 has a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, an imagememory 404, an HDD 405, a touch panel 406, a display 407, a keyboard408, a card reading device 409, a printer 410, a Bluetooth communicatingcircuit 411, an NIC 412, and the like. Each unit is mutually connectedby a bus 413. Each unit operates by receiving supply of power from apower supply unit (not illustrated) such as a battery or an AC powersupply.

The CPU 401 executes operation processes and control processes for eachunit. The ROM 402 stores a fixed program such as a BIOS. The RAM 403 isused as a work area when the CPU 401 executes a program. The imagememory 404 is an image memory for printing.

The HDD 405 stores various programs and various types of data. Variousprograms include an operating system (OS) that performs basicoperations, a driver that drives each unit, client software, and anapplication that is related to store searching, sale of tickets, and thelike. In addition, various types of data include screen information andthe like.

The touch panel 406 detects a touch input on a touch panel and notifiesa detected signal to the CPU 401.

The display 407 displays a predetermined screen output by the CPU 401 ona display of a liquid crystal or the like.

The keyboard 408 converts an input signal of a push key on a keyboardinto a predetermined code and notifies the code to the CPU 401.

The card reading device 409 drives a card reading device to read cardinformation from a credit card or the like.

The printer 410 controls a printer to print an image of the image memory404 on a printing sheet.

The Bluetooth communicating circuit 411 performs communication by theBluetooth communication protocol.

The NIC 412 is a controller that performs communication by Ethernet. TheNIC 412 performs data communication with the server apparatus 5, aserver apparatus of a card company (not illustrated), and the like.

Functional Configuration of Multimedia Terminal M1

Next, a functional configuration of the multimedia terminal M1 will bedescribed. The multimedia terminal M1 implements multimedia functionssuch as store searching and sale of tickets by the CPU 401 readingvarious programs of the ROM 402 or the HDD 405 into the RAM 403 in orderand executing the programs.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto store searching of the multimedia functions. As illustrated in FIG.37, the multimedia terminal M1 implements functions of an inputreceiving unit 81, a screen display unit 82, a first communicating unit83, a second communicating unit 84, a printing output unit 85, a viewerunit 86, and the like.

The input receiving unit 81 receives input information by a key input ora touch input from the keyboard 408 or the touch panel 406.

The screen display unit 82 outputs screen data to the display 407.

The first communicating unit 83 establishes communication with theserver apparatus 5 and transmits and receives instructions and data withthe server apparatus 5 through the NIC 412.

The second communicating unit 84 establishes communication with themobile terminal 2 through the Bluetooth communicating circuit 411 andreads terminal-specific identification information of the mobileterminal 2.

The printing output unit 85 loads display screen information of thedisplay 407 into the image memory 404 and drives the printer 410 toprint the display screen information on a printing sheet.

The viewer unit 86 acquires screen information related to the storesearch service and outputs the screen information to the screen displayunit 82. For example, the viewer unit 86 outputs, to the screen displayunit 82, a screen corresponding to a received content of the inputreceiving unit 81. In addition, the viewer unit 86, in accordance withthe received content of the input receiving unit 81, acquires screeninformation from the server apparatus 5 through the first communicatingunit 83 and outputs the screen.

In this configuration, the multimedia terminal M1 displays, on thedisplay 407, a top screen dedicated to the multimedia terminal M1 thatincludes an operation button initiating the store search service. In thecase of a touch input being provided on the operation button, a switchis made to the top screen for the store search service. The multimediaterminal M1, by receiving various inputs on the top screen for the storesearch service, uses the store search service of the server apparatus 5instead of the mobile terminal 2.

Process Flow of Multimedia Terminal M1

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating one example of a process flow of theCPU 401 of the multimedia terminal M1. First, if a touch input isprovided on the operation button that initiates the store searchservice, the CPU 401 displays, on the display 407, message informationthat prompts bringing the mobile terminal 2 close to a predeterminedread position, and establishes communication with the mobile terminal 2through the Bluetooth communicating circuit 411 (S401).

Next, the CPU 401 reads the terminal-specific identification informationtransmitted by the mobile terminal 2 and temporarily stores theidentification information in a predetermined storage region in the RAM403 (S402).

Next, the CPU 401 disconnects communication with the mobile terminal 2(S403).

Next, the CPU 401 displays the top screen for the store search serviceon the display 407 and receives an operational input (S404).

A screen flow of the multimedia terminal M1 or a communication flowbetween each device after reception of an operational input on the topscreen is approximately the same as that illustrated in the thirdembodiment. That is, the screen flow is illustrated in FIG. 22 to FIG.25, and the communication flow is acquired by replacing the mobileterminal 2 in FIG. 32 with the multimedia terminal M1.

Main differences are the server apparatus 5 side process of Step S21illustrated in the communication flow in FIG. 32 and processes in themultimedia terminal M1 after Step S23.

In the shortest route screen generation process of Step S21, the serverapparatus 5 finds the shortest route from the position information ofthe multimedia terminal M1 as a starting point to the position indicatedby the store position information. Specifically, the server apparatus 5previously manages the position information of the multimedia terminalM1 in correlation with an IP address, a MAC address, or the like of themultimedia terminal M1 in a management table or the like. Accordingly,the assignment processing unit 11, if receiving a request from themultimedia terminal M1, acquires position information from themanagement table based on the IP address, the MAC address, or the likeindicating the requester and passes the position information as acurrent place to the shortest route finding unit 19. The shortest routefinding unit 19 finds the shortest route from the position informationas a starting point to the position indicated by the store positioninformation.

Process Flow of Multimedia Terminal M1 Continued

Processes of the CPU 401 of the multimedia terminal M1 after Step S23are as follows.

As illustrated in FIG. 38, first, the CPU 401 receives an operationalinput on a print button (S405).

Next, the CPU 401, based on the operational input on the print button,loads the display screen information of the display 407 into the imagememory 404 and drives the printer 410 to print the display screeninformation on a printing sheet (S406). Accordingly, the printing sheethaving the shortest route screen is discharged from a discharge port.

Then, the CPU 401, based on an operational input on a terminate button,releases the storage region of the terminal-specific identificationinformation to display the top screen dedicated to the multimediaterminal M1.

Display Screen of Multimedia Terminal M1

FIGS. 39A to 39D are diagrams illustrating one example of displayscreens of the multimedia terminal M1. FIG. 39A is the top screendedicated to the multimedia terminal M1. FIG. 39B is the communicationmessage screen. FIG. 39C is the top screen for the store search service.FIG. 39D is the shortest route screen. Other screens are notillustrated.

A top screen g1 dedicated to the multimedia terminal M1 illustrated inFIG. 39A includes a “store search” button b1. The “store search” buttonb1 is an operation button for instructing the viewer unit 86 to initiatethe store search service. If a touch input is provided on the “storesearch” button b1, the viewer unit 86 displays the communication messagescreen.

A communication message screen g2 illustrated in FIG. 39B includesmessage information j0 that prompts bringing the mobile terminal 2 closeto a predetermined reading position. The CPU 401, if reading theterminal-specific identification information of the mobile terminal 2,displays the top screen for the store search service.

A top screen g3 for the store search service illustrated in FIG. 39C isa screen of the multimedia terminal M1 that corresponds to the topscreen G1 of the mobile terminal 2 illustrated in FIG. 22. As oneexample, the top screen g3 has the “confirm line of movement of today”button B1, the “confirm past line of movement” button B2, the“terminate” button b5, and the like.

The “confirm line of movement of today” button B1 and the “confirm pastline of movement” button B2 are the same as those illustrated in FIG.22. The “terminate” button b5 is an operation button for instructing theviewer unit 86 to terminate the store search service. If a touch inputis provided on the “terminate” button b5, the viewer unit 86 displaysthe top screen of the multimedia terminal M1. The “terminate” button b5is also disposed in each screen described later.

A shortest route screen g4 illustrated in FIG. 39D is a screen of themultimedia terminal M1 that corresponds to the shortest route screen G6of the mobile terminal 2 illustrated in FIG. 25. The shortest routescreen g4 that is illustrated as one example is acquired by adding a“print” button b2 to the shortest route screen G6 in FIG. 25.

The “print” button b2 is an operation button for instructing the viewerunit 86 to print the display screen. If a touch input is provided on the“print” button b2, the printing output unit 85 is called by the viewerunit 86 to print the display screen information of the display 407 on aprinting sheet.

The multimedia terminal M1 as the information processing apparatusaccording to the present embodiment, by the input receiving unit 81 thatreceives information related to service from the mobile terminal 2, thesecond communicating unit 84 that reads the terminal-specificidentification information of the mobile terminal 2, and the like,functions as an input section that receives input of information relatedto service.

The multimedia terminal M1, by the printing output unit 85 and the like,functions as an output section that outputs the position information ofa store or the like received.

By this configuration, the service user can use the store search servicewith the multimedia terminal M1 instead of the mobile terminal 2. Inaddition, since the position information of a store or the like, theshortest route to a store, and the like can be printed at the multimediaterminal M1, the service user can go toward a desired store whileconfirming the printed sheet.

Sixth Embodiment

An embodiment in the case of a multimedia terminal in a commercialfacility providing the store search service as the server apparatus 5illustrated in the third embodiment will be illustrated in a sixthembodiment.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system 800 according to the sixth embodiment. The guidancesystem 800 illustrated in FIG. 40 is acquired by replacing the serverapparatus 5 with a multimedia terminal M2 and removing the beacon device3 in the guidance system 500 (refer to FIG. 27) illustrated in the thirdembodiment.

The multimedia terminal M2 is disposed in a predetermined area in thecommercial facility U1 and is connected to the local area network (LAN)N4 by a LAN cable or the like.

In this network configuration, the mobile terminal 2 transmits uniqueidentification information to the wireless communicating device 7 byWi-Fi or the like during movement. The wireless communicating device 7transmits, to the multimedia terminal M2, data in which identificationinformation thereof (corresponds to the beacon ID) is added to theidentification information of the mobile terminal 2. The multimediaterminal M2, if receiving data from the wireless communicating device 7,registers the identification information of the wireless communicatingdevice 7 stored in the received data as the time-series data in themovement line data management table T1 (refer to FIG. 5) thatcorresponds to the identification information of the mobile terminal 2stored in the received data.

Subsequent operation of the multimedia terminal M2 by the service useris approximately the same as that of the multimedia terminal M1illustrated in the fifth embodiment except that the store search serviceis processed in the multimedia terminal M2.

That is, the multimedia terminal M2 displays an operation screen relatedto the store search service on the screen thereof. The multimediaterminal M2, if receiving an input related to the store search serviceon the operation screen, receives the identification information of themobile terminal 2 by Bluetooth communication or the like from the mobileterminal 2. Furthermore, the multimedia terminal M2, if receiving aninput related to store searching on the operation screen, executes aprocess related to store search service therein and displays theexecution result on the operation screen. Details of the process arerepetition of the process previously described in the other embodimentsand thus will not be further described here.

Seventh Embodiment

An embodiment in the case of the mobile terminal 2 illustrated in thesixth embodiment accumulating the time-series data and using the storesearch service provided by a multimedia terminal will be illustrated ina seventh embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a guidance system 900 according to the seventh embodiment. Theguidance system 900 illustrated in FIG. 41 is acquired by, mainly,arranging the beacon device 3 and removing the wireless communicatingdevice 7 in the guidance system 800 (refer to FIG. 40) illustrated inthe sixth embodiment.

In the network configuration, the mobile terminal 2 in each transmissionarea of the beacon device 3 receives the beacon signal that is emittedby the beacon device 3. The mobile terminal 2 stores the beacon ID ofthe beacon signal in correlation with date and time information at thetime of reception of the beacon signal. Each time the mobile terminal 2receives the beacon signal emitted by the beacon device 3, the mobileterminal 2 correlates the beacon ID with date and time information atthe time of reception of the beacon signal and manages the beacon ID asthe time-series data therein.

A multimedia terminal M3 displays an operation screen related to thestore search service on the screen thereof. The multimedia terminal M3,if receiving an input related to the store search service on theoperation screen, receives the time-series data by Bluetoothcommunication or the like from the mobile terminal 2.

Furthermore, the multimedia terminal M3, if receiving an input relatedto store searching on the operation screen, executes a process relatedto the store search service therein based on the time-series datareceived from the mobile terminal 2 and displays the execution result onthe operation screen. Subsequent operation of the multimedia terminal M3by the service user is approximately the same as that of the multimediaterminal M2 illustrated in the sixth embodiment.

Eighth Embodiment

The mobile terminal 2 maybe configured to have the functional units ofthe store service process of the server apparatus 1 illustrated in thefirst embodiment. In this case, the mobile terminal 2 receives thebeacon signal emitted by the beacon device 3 in each transmission areaof the beacon device 3. The mobile terminal 2 correlates the beacon IDof the beacon signal with date and time information at the time ofreception of the beacon signal and stores the beacon ID in the flash ROM203 (refer to FIG. 3) thereof. Each time the mobile terminal 2 receivesthe beacon signal emitted by the beacon device 3, the mobile terminal 2correlates the beacon ID with date and time information at the time ofreception of the beacon signal and manages the time-series data in theflash ROM 203.

The mobile terminal 2 displays, on the display 250 (refer to FIG. 3)thereof, an operation screen related to the store search service that ispreviously stored in the flash ROM 203. The mobile terminal 2, ifreceiving an input related to the store search service on the operationscreen, executes a process related to the store search service based onthe time-series data managed in the flash ROM 203 and displays theexecution result on the display 250. Details of the process arerepetition of the previously described process between the mobileterminal 2 and the server apparatus 1 in the first embodiment as theprocess of the mobile terminal 2 and thus will not be further describedhere.

Ninth Embodiment

An embodiment in the case of searching for a stop position of a car in aparking lot in a commercial facility or the like will be illustrated ina ninth embodiment. First, the store search application of the mobileterminal is launched in the stop position of the car. By this launching,the mobile terminal receives the beacon signal from a nearby beacondevice and transmits the beacon ID and date and time information to theserver apparatus 1. When the user of the mobile terminal finishesshopping and returns to the parking lot, the user pushes a stop positionsearch button on the mobile terminal to transmit a request signal forthe stop position to the server apparatus. The server apparatus, ifreceiving the request signal for the stop position from the mobileterminal, extracts the time-series data of the mobile terminal anddetermines the starting point of the time-series data to be the stopposition. The server apparatus transmits position information, mapinformation, and the like to the mobile terminal of the requester. Anumber or the like that indicates the stop position disposed in theparking lot is transmitted in the position information.

Tenth Embodiment

An embodiment of a lost article guidance system that provides guidancefor information as to a lost article to a user of a commercial facilitywill be illustrated in the present embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating one example of a network configurationof a lost article guidance system 500-1 according to a tenth embodiment.The lost article guidance system 500-1 illustrated in FIG. 42 isacquired by disposing the server apparatus 5 and the POS terminal 6respectively as a server apparatus 5-1 and a POS terminal 6-1 having alost article function in the guidance system 500 (refer to FIG. 27)illustrated in the third embodiment. In the lost article guidance system500-1, the server apparatus 5-1, the POS terminal 6-1, and the mobileterminal 2 perform operation related to lost article guidanceillustrated below, in addition to the operation related to the storesearch service.

The server apparatus 5-1, by access from the mobile terminal 2, providesservice such as lost article searching and guidance for a storage placeof a lost article. For example, if there is a query as to a lost articlefrom the mobile terminal 2, the server apparatus 5-1 provides guidancefor a storage place of a found article relevant to the lost articlebased on provision of information from each POS terminal 6-1.

The POS terminal 6-1, in the case of discovering a found article,notifies information of the found article (e.g., information thatindicates the found date and time, the name of the found article, or thefeatures of the found article) to the server apparatus 5-1.

The mobile terminal 2, by making a query as to the lost article to theserver apparatus 5-1, acquires information such as a storage place ofthe lost article from the server apparatus 5-1.

Specific Example of Each Device

Next, specific configurations of each device of the lost articleguidance system 500-1 according to the present embodiment will bedescribed. Configurations of the server apparatus 5-1 and the POSterminal 6-1 will be described. For the server apparatus 5-1, “functionsrelated to lost article guidance” and table configurations that aredifferent from those of the server apparatus 5 illustrated in the thirdembodiment will be described. In addition, for the POS terminal 6-1, theexterior of the POS terminal 6-1 will be illustrated, and “functionsrelated to lost article guidance” that are different from theconfiguration of the POS terminal 6 illustrated in the third embodimentwill be described. For hardware configurations of the server apparatus5-1 and the POS terminal 6-1, refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 29.

For a configuration of the mobile terminal 2, a flow of a process of themobile terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 10.In addition, the wireless communicating device 7 is a relay device thatrelays transferred data between the mobile terminal 2 and the serverapparatus 5-1. The wireless communicating device 7 performs wirelesscommunication with the mobile terminal 2 side and performs Ethernetcommunication with the server apparatus 5-1 side by the LAN N4. Furtherdescription of the configuration of the wireless communicating device 7will not be provided.

Functional Configuration of Server Apparatus 5-1

First, a functional configuration of the server apparatus 5-1 will bedescribed. The server apparatus 5-1 implements each functional unitillustrated in FIG. 43 by the CPU 101 reading previously storedcorresponding programs of the ROM 102 or the HDD 104 into the RAM 103 inorder and executing the corresponding programs.

FIG. 43 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto lost article guidance service of the server apparatus 5-1. Asillustrated in FIG. 43, the server apparatus 5-1 implements functions ofthe communicating unit 10, the assignment processing unit 11, the screeninformation generating unit 12, the estimated position informationregistering unit 13, the time-series data extracting unit 14, the mapdata extracting unit 15, the movement range specifying unit 17, theshortest route finding unit 19, a found article information registeringunit 90, a found article information extracting unit 91, a lost articlequery unit 92, a notifying unit 93, and the like. For each functionalunit, the same functional units as the functional units illustrated inthe third embodiment are designated by the same reference signs.Hereinafter, additional functional units in the present embodiment willbe described.

The found article information registering unit 90 registers informationof a found article discovered by the POS terminal 6-1 in a found articlemanagement table T6 (refer to FIG. 44).

The found article information extracting unit 91 extracts relevant foundarticle information from the found article management table T6 withinformation as to the lost article provided from the mobile terminal 2as a search condition.

The lost article query unit 92 transmits an inquiry request signal as tothe lost article to the POS terminal 6-1 installed in each store withinthe movement range of the service user and acquires found articleinformation from any POS terminal 6-1.

The notifying unit 93 generates notification data that operates thenotification function of the mobile terminal 2. For example, thenotifying unit 93 generates notification data by embedding a signaloperating a notification sound, vibrations, or the like into functionalinformation of the mobile terminal 2 received from the assignmentprocessing unit 11.

Table Configuration

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating one example of a table configurationof the found article management table. The found article managementtable T6 illustrated in FIG. 44 is a table that correlates found dateinformation 1001, found article name 1002, found article feature 1003, astorage place 1004, and the like with each other. The found dateinformation 1001 is information that indicates the found date and time.The found article name 1002 is name information of the found articlesuch as “handkerchief” or “bag”. The found article feature 1003 isinformation that indicates features of an acquired article such as theshape, the color, and the size thereof. The storage place 1004 isinformation that indicates the storage place of the found article suchas the name or the position information of a store that temporarilystores the found article or a management office or the positioninformation thereof that collects found articles.

Hardware Configuration of POS Terminal 6-1

FIG. 45 is a perspective exterior view of a POS cash registerillustrated as one example of the POS terminal 6-1. For each unit of thePOS terminal 6-1, parts corresponding to the hardware configuration ofthe POS terminal 6 (refer to FIG. 29) are designated by the samereference signs.

The POS terminal 6-1 illustrated in FIG. 45 has a main body 300incorporating a control board and the drawer 306 accommodating change ofbanknotes and coins. As one example, the illustrated drawer 306 is onedisposed in a lower portion of the main body 300.

The POS terminal 6-1 includes, on a top surface of the main body 300,the keyboard 307 in which multiple push keys including numeric keys suchas “0” to “9”, a total key, and the like are arranged. Furthermore, thePOS terminal 6-1 includes, in an upper portion of the main body 300, thedisplay (e.g., liquid crystal display or the like) 308 in which thetouch panel 309 is disposed on the surface.

The POS terminal 6-1 includes a discharge port 305-1 for receipts on theleft side of the keyboard 307. The printer 305 that is incorporated inthe main body 300 discharges a printed receipt from the discharge port305-1. Besides, the POS terminal 6-1 includes the scanner 310 that readsa code symbol of merchandise, the card reading device 311 that readscard information of a credit card or the like, and the like.

Functional Configuration of POS Terminal 6-1

Next, a functional configuration of the POS terminal 6-1 will bedescribed. The POS terminal 6-1 implements functions related tomerchandise registration, accounting, merchandise inquiry, found articlereporting, and the like by the CPU 301 reading previously storedcorresponding programs of the ROM 302 or the HDD 304 into the RAM 303 inorder and executing the corresponding programs.

FIG. 46 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto found article reporting. As illustrated in FIG. 46, the POS terminal6-1 implements functions of the communicating unit 60, an inputreceiving unit 62, a screen display unit 63, a found article informationnotifying unit 64, a lost article notifying unit 65, and the like.

The communicating unit 60 establishes communication with the serverapparatus 5-1 through the NIC 312 and reads received data from the NIC312 and sends transmitted data such as the found article information tothe NIC 312.

The input receiving unit 62 receives an operational input from thekeyboard 307 or the touch panel 309.

The screen display unit 63 displays screen information such as a foundarticle notification screen or a pop-up screen on the display 308.

The found article information notifying unit 64 stores, in a dataportion of a registration request signal, the found article informationinput from an operator on the found article notification screen andinstructs the communicating unit 60 to transmit the registration requestsignal to the server apparatus 5-1.

The lost article notifying unit 65, in the case of received data read bythe communicating unit 60 being equal to a query request signal,generates screen information that prompts searching around for the lostarticle, and outputs the screen information to the screen display unit63. In the case of the data portion of the query request signal storinginformation as to the lost article, the lost article notifying unit 65generates screen information that includes information as to the lostarticle. A display method for the screen information maybe appropriatelyset, such as pop-up display or alert display.

The viewer unit 26 has a function of using the lost article guidanceservice in addition to the functional configuration of the mobileterminal 2 illustrated in FIG. 10. For a hardware configuration of themobile terminal 2, refer to FIG. 3.

Sequence of Entire System Related to Notification of Found Article

Next, a communication flow between the devices of the lost articleguidance system 500-1 will be described.

FIG. 47 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between thedevices of the lost article guidance system 500-1 in the case of the POSterminal 6-1 reporting the found article information to the serverapparatus 5-1.

First, a salesperson in a store having the POS terminal 6-1 discovers alost article (S31).

Next, by operation of the salesperson, the POS terminal 6-1 displays thefound article notification screen on the display 308 and receives inputof the found article information (S32).

The POS terminal 6-1 transmits a registration request signal storing thefound article information to the server apparatus 5-1 (S33).

The server apparatus 5-1, if receiving the registration request signaltransmitted from the POS terminal 6-1, registers the notified foundarticle information in the found article management table T6 (S34).

In the case of a salesperson in another store discovering a lostarticle, a notification procedure is performed between each device inthe same manner as Step S31 to Step S34.

Process Flow of Server Apparatus 5-1

A registration process for the found article information in the serverapparatus 5-1 will be described. The CPU 101 (in particular, thecommunicating unit 10), if receiving a connection request signal of thePOS terminal 6-1 by the NIC 106, establishes communication with the POSterminal 6-1 through the NIC 106.

The CPU 101 (in particular, the communicating unit 10), if furtherreceiving a transmitted signal from the POS terminal 6-1 by the NIC 106,reads the information of the transmitted signal, calls the assignmentprocessing unit 11, and causes the assignment processing unit 11 toperform various service processes.

The CPU 101 (in particular, the assignment processing unit 11) managessession information per POS terminal 6-1 that makes a request, andcontrols processes in accordance with the request content of thereceived data. In the registration process for the found articleinformation described here, the CPU 101 (in particular, the assignmentprocessing unit 11) controls processes for the found article informationregistering unit 90. The CPU 101 (in particular, the found articleinformation registering unit 90) registers the found article informationof the received data in the found article management table T6.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 101 (in particular, the found articleinformation registering unit 90) references the store information tableT4 (refer to FIG. 8) and acquires the store name, the positioninformation, and the like of a store corresponding to a transmitteraddress (an IP address, a MAC address, or the like) of the receiveddata. The CPU 101 (in particular, the found article informationregistering unit 90) registers the found article information in thefound article management table T6 in correlation with the acquiredinformation.

For example, assume that the CPU 101 (in particular, the found articleinformation registering unit 90) receives the found date “2016. 1. 11. 2p.m.”, the name of the found article “bag”, the features of the foundarticle “beige” and “shoulder type” as the found article information. Inthis case, the CPU 101 (in particular, the found article informationregistering unit 90) registers the information and informationspecifying a store acquired from the store information table T4 as onerecord information in each of the found date information 1001, the foundarticle name 1002, the found article feature 1003, and the storage place1004.

By this registration, a record DT illustrated in FIG. 44 is generated.The CPU 101 (in particular, the communicating unit 10) disconnectscommunication with the POS terminal 6-1 by receiving a disconnectionrequest signal from the POS terminal 6-1 by the NIC 106 or elapsing of apreset time limit.

In the case of moving the found article to the management office or thelike after temporary storage of the found article, a management terminalor the like of the management office connects to the server apparatus5-1 and updates a target record of the found article management table T6to change the storage place of the record to the information of themanagement office.

Display Screen of POS Terminal 6-1

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating one example of the found articlenotification screen. A found article notification screen G20 illustratedin FIG. 48 has an input box C20, an input box C21, an input box C22, andan input box C23. In addition, the found article notification screen G20has a “transmit” button B20 and a “terminate” button B21. The input boxC20 is for input of information that indicates the found date and time.The input box C21 is for input of the name of the found article. Theinput box C22 is for input of the features of the found article. Theinput box C23 is for input of information that indicates the storageplace. The “transmit” button B20 is an operation button for declaringtransmission of the information input in each of the input boxes C20,C21, C22, and C23. The “terminate” button B21 is an operation button fordeclaring termination of the found article notification screen.

The CPU 301 of the POS terminal 6-1, if receiving input of an executioninstruction for a found article notification program by an inputprovided on an icon or the like by the salesperson, executes functionalunits corresponding to the execution instruction and displays the foundarticle notification screen G20 on the display 308. The CPU 301, ifreceiving input of the found article information and further receivingan input on the “transmit” button B20, generates transmitted data inwhich the CPU 301 (in particular, the found article informationnotifying unit 64) stores the found article information, and the CPU 301(in particular, the communicating unit 60) transmits the data to theserver apparatus 5-1.

Sequence of Entire System Related to Making Query as to Lost Article

FIG. 49 is a sequence diagram (1) illustrating communication betweendevices of the lost article guidance system 500-1 in the case of themobile terminal 2 making a query as to the lost article to the serverapparatus 5-1.

First, the mobile terminal 2 displays an input screen on the display 250and receives input of information as to the lost article (S41). In thepresent embodiment, a lost article search button is disposed on the topscreen of the mobile terminal 2, and the mobile terminal 2 displays thelost article input screen on the display 250 by an operational input onthe lost article search button.

The mobile terminal 2 transmits a lost article information requestsignal storing the information as to the lost article to the serverapparatus 5-1 (S42).

The server apparatus 5-1, if receiving the lost article informationrequest signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 2, performs aninquiry in the registered information of the found article managementtable T6 as to whether or not there is a notification of the foundarticle information corresponding to the lost article informationrequest signal (S43).

If there is a notification of the relevant found article information inthe registered information of the found article management table T6, theserver apparatus 5-1 transmits in response the found article informationto the mobile terminal 2 of the query submitter (S44).

The mobile terminal 2 displays, on the display 250, the found articleinformation transmitted from the server apparatus 5-1 (S45).

FIG. 50 is a sequence diagram (2) illustrating communication betweendevices of the lost article guidance system 500-1 in the case of themobile terminal 2 making a query as to a lost article to the serverapparatus 5-1. The same parts as the sequence diagram (1) will not bedescribed.

The server apparatus 5-1, in Step S43 of the sequence diagram (1),performs an inquiry in the registered information of the found articlemanagement table T6 as to whether or not there is a notification of thefound article information. By this inquiry, in the case of absence of anotification of the relevant found article information, the serverapparatus 5-1 transmits a query request signal to the POS terminals 6-1of each store within the movement range of the mobile terminal 2 of thequery submitter (S51).

If the salesperson searches around and discovers a lost article havingsimilar features, the POS terminal 6-1 transmits in response a discoverysignal for the found article to the server apparatus 5-1 (S52).

The server apparatus 5-1 performs a notification registration process ifreceiving the discovery signal from at least any one POS terminal 6-1making a query (S53).

The server apparatus 5-1 transmits a notification signal to the mobileterminal 2 of the query submitter (S54).

The mobile terminal 2, if receiving the notification signal from theserver apparatus 5-1, notifies discovery of the lost article to theservice user by, for example, making a notification sound or vibrating avibrating unit in accordance with settings of the mobile terminal 2(S55).

Then, the mobile terminal 2 again makes a query as to the lost articleto the server apparatus 5-1 through the procedure of Step S56 to StepS59 corresponding to Step S42 to Step S45 in the sequence diagram (1)and acquires the found article information.

Process Flow of Server Apparatus 5-1

Next, a service process of the server apparatus 5-1 will be described.The service process of the server apparatus 5-1 is performed undercontrol of the assignment processing unit 11.

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating one example of a process flow of theserver apparatus 5-1. First, the CPU 101 (in particular, the assignmentprocessing unit 11) confirms request information of received data readby the communicating unit 10 and determines whether or not the requestinformation indicates a query as to a lost article (S161).

In the case of the request content being a request that indicates aquery as to a lost article (Step S161: Yes determination), the CPU 101(in particular, the found article information extracting unit 91), undercontrol of the assignment processing unit 11, sets information as to thelost article stored in a data portion of the received data as a searchcondition and extracts a relevant record from the found articlemanagement table T6 (S162).

For example, assume that information that indicates “the name of thefound article” (for example, tag information) as the information as tothe lost article and search information are stored in the data portion.In this case, the CPU 101 (in particular, the found article informationextracting unit 91) performs an extraction process for a record relevantto the search information with the found article name 1002 of the foundarticle management table T6 as a key. In the case of the data portionstoring a set of a plurality of pieces of tag information such as the“found date information”, the “name of the found article”, and the“features of the found article” as the information as to the lostarticle and the search information, records that have the searchinformation in fields corresponding to the plurality of pieces of taginformation are extracted from the found article management table T6.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the assignment processing unit 11)determines whether or not a relevant record is extracted by the foundarticle information extracting unit 91 (S163).

In the case of a relevant record being extracted by the found articleinformation extracting unit 91 (S163: Yes determination), the CPU 101(in particular, the time-series data extracting unit 14), under controlof the assignment processing unit 11, extracts the time-series data fromthe movement line data management table T1 of the query submitter(S164). Specifically, the CPU 101 (in particular, the time-series dataextracting unit 14) reads an IP address, a MAC address, or the likestored in a header of the received data and specifies the movement linedata management table T1 of the query submitter based on theidentification information of the query submitter corresponding to theIP address, the MAC address, or the like. The CPU 101 (in particular,the time-series data extracting unit 14) extracts time-series data onthe current date from the movement line data management table T1.

Next, under control of the assignment processing unit 11, the CPU 101(in particular, the map data extracting unit 15) extracts, from the mapinformation table T3 (refer to FIG. 7), map data that includes aposition specified by the estimated position information of thetime-series data extracted by the time-series data extracting unit 14(S165).

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the shortest route finding unit 19)finds the shortest route to the storage place under control of theassignment processing unit 11 (S166). Specifically, the CPU 101 (inparticular, the shortest route finding unit 19) sets a destination tothe storage place included in the relevant record extracted by the foundarticle information extracting unit 91. In addition, the CPU 101 (inparticular, the shortest route finding unit 19) sets the current placeto the estimated position information of the last time-series dataextracted by the time-series data extracting unit 14. The CPU 101 (inparticular, the shortest route finding unit 19) finds the shortest routefrom the current place to the storage place based on the map dataextracted by the map data extracting unit 15.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the screen information generating unit12) generates screen information under control of the assignmentprocessing unit 11 (S167). For example, generated is screen informationthat includes an image in which data indicating the shortest route andthe map data are combined, information of the record extracted by thefound article information extracting unit 91, and the like.

The CPU 101 (in particular, the assignment processing unit 11) passesthe screen information generated by the screen information generatingunit 12 to the communicating unit 10 and instructs the communicatingunit 10 to transmit in response the screen information to the mobileterminal 2 of the query submitter (S168).

In the case of the request content in Step S161 not being a request thatindicates a query as to a lost article (Step S161: No determination),the CPU 101 (in particular, the assignment processing unit 11)determines whether or not the request is a request that indicatesdiscovery of a found article (S174). In the case of the request notbeing a found article discovery request (Step S174: No determination),processing is performed by assigning processes to functional unitscorresponding to other service processes (S175). In the case of therequest being a found article discovery request (Step S174: Yesdetermination), the CPU 101 performs processes from Step S176. Theprocesses from Step S176 will be described later.

In the case of a relevant record not being extracted by the foundarticle information extracting unit 91 in Step S163 (S163: Nodetermination), the CPU 101 operates as follows. First, the CPU 101 (inparticular, the time-series data extracting unit 14) extracts thetime-series data from the movement line data management table T1 of thequery submitter under control of the assignment processing unit 11(S169).

Next, under control of the assignment processing unit 11, the CPU 101(in particular, the map data extracting unit 15) extracts, from the mapinformation table T3 (refer to FIG. 7), map data that includes aposition specified by the estimated position information of thetime-series data extracted by the time-series data extracting unit 14(S170).

Next, under control of the assignment processing unit 11, the CPU 101(in particular, the movement range specifying unit 17), based on eachestimated position information of the time-series data extracted by thetime-series data extracting unit 14, calculates the range specificationinformation that sets an area along the path connecting each estimatedposition as a movement range (S171).

Next, under control of the assignment processing unit 11, the CPU 101(in particular, the lost article query unit 92) extracts storeinformation of all relevant stores with the range specificationinformation calculated by the movement range specifying unit 17 as asearch condition (S172). Specifically, the CPU 101 (in particular, thelost article query unit 92) searches for stores positioned in the areaindicated by the range specification information from the store positioninformation 802 of the store information table T4. For example, assumethat the range specification information is information that indicatesthe distance from the estimated position. In this case, a store forwhich the position information of the store position information 802 iswithin the distance from the estimated position is regarded as being inthe area indicated by the range specification information, and the storeinformation indicating the store is extracted. The store information isassumed to include identification information such as an IP address or aMAC address of the POS terminal 6-1 installed in the store.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the assignment processing unit 11)stores, in a data portion of a query request signal, the information asto the lost article transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 and instructsthe communicating unit 10 to transmit the query request signal to thePOS terminals 6-1 of each store in the area of the movement rangeextracted in Step S171 (S173). Accordingly, the CPU 101 (in particular,the communicating unit 10) generates and transmits an inquiry requestsignal to the IP address of the specified POS terminal 6-1.

Next, the processes from Step S176 in the case of a Yes determination inStep S174 will be described.

First, under control of the assignment processing unit 11, the CPU 101(in particular, the found article information registering unit 90)performs a notification registration process for the information as tothe lost article provided from the mobile terminal 2 (S176).Specifically, the assignment processing unit 11 temporarily manages theidentification information of the mobile terminal 2, the information asto the lost article provided from the mobile terminal 2, the storeinformation acquired in Step S172, a query number, and the like incorrelation with each other. In the case of the request of the receiveddata being a found article discovery request, the assignment processingunit 11 selects store information of a relevant store from the querynumber, the IP address of the transmitter, or the like included in thereceived data. Accordingly, the CPU 101 (in particular, the foundarticle information registering unit 90) receives the information as tothe lost article and the selected store information from the assignmentprocessing unit 11 and registers the information as one piece of recordinformation in the found article management table T6.

Next, the CPU 101 (in particular, the notifying unit 93) generatesnotification data under control of the assignment processing unit 11(S177). The notifying unit 93 generates notification data by embedding asignal that operates the notification function of the mobile terminal 2.

The CPU 101 (in particular, the assignment processing unit 11) passesthe notification data generated by the notifying unit 93 to thecommunicating unit 10 and instructs the communicating unit 10 totransmit the notification data to the mobile terminal 2 of the querysubmitter (S178). Accordingly, the notification signal is transmittedtoward the mobile terminal 2 of the query submitter by the CPU 101 (inparticular, the communicating unit 10) to operate the notificationfunction of the mobile terminal 2.

Process Flow of POS Terminal 6-1

FIG. 52 is a process flow diagram of the POS terminal 6-1. First, theCPU 301 (in particular, the communicating unit 60) confirms receiveddata and determines whether or not the received data is a query requestsignal (S301).

In the case of the received data not being a query request signal (StepS301: No determination), other functional units that perform a requestedprocess of the received data perform the process (S306).

In the case of the received data being a query request signal (StepS301: Yes determination), the CPU 301 (in particular, the lost articlenotifying unit 65) generates screen information that prompts searchingaround for the lost article, and outputs the screen information to thescreen display unit 63 (S302).

Next, based on the screen information, the CPU 301 (in particular, thescreen display unit 63) displays, on the display 308, a screen thatprompts searching around for the lost article (S303). As one example,assume that a pop-up screen is displayed.

Next, the CPU 301 (in particular, the input receiving unit 62) receivesan input on a discovery button from the pop-up screen (S304).

If the input receiving unit 62 receives an input on the discoverybutton, the CPU 301 (in particular, the lost article notifying unit 65)instructs the communicating unit 60 to transmit a discovery signal tothe server apparatus 5-1 that makes a query request (S305). Accordingly,the POS terminal 6-1 transmits a discovery signal to the serverapparatus 5-1.

Screen Prompting Searching

FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating a pop-up screen of one example of ascreen prompting searching that is displayed on the POS terminal 6-1. Apop-up screen G21 illustrated in FIG. 53 has confirmation informationJ1, lost article information J2, and a “discovery” button B22. Theconfirmation information J1 is message information that requestssearching for the lost article. The lost article information J2 isinformation as to the lost article provided from the service user, suchas the name and the features of the lost article. The “discovery” buttonB22 is an operation button that is pushed in the case of the salespersonor the like discovering the lost article. By pushing the “discovery”button B22, the POS terminal 6-1 transmits a discovery signal to theserver apparatus 5-1.

Screen Flow of Mobile Terminal 2

FIG. 54 is a diagram illustrating one example of screen configurationsand a screen flow of screens related to lost article guidance used inthe application of the mobile terminal 2.

A top screen G1 a illustrated in FIG. 54 is acquired by adding a “lostarticle search button” B1 a to the top screen G1 illustrated in FIG. 22.The “lost article search button” B1 a is an operation button forinstructing the viewer unit 26 to call an input form screen for causingthe server apparatus 5-1 to make a query as to the lost article. If atouch input is provided on the “lost article search button” B1 a, theviewer unit 26 displays an input form screen G2 a and receives input ofinformation as to the lost article.

In the input form screen G2 a illustrated in FIG. 54, disposed are aninput box C1 a, an input box C2 a, an input box C3 a, a “transmit”button B2 a, the “return” button B7, and the “terminate” button B5.

The input box C1 a is an input box for input of the name of the lostarticle. The input box C2 a is an input box for input of the features ofthe lost article. The input box C3 a is an input box for input of afound date and time or a time slot.

If a touch input is provided on the “transmit” button B2 a, the viewerunit 26 adds tag information or the like to each information input inthe input box C1 a, the input box C2 a, and the input box C3 a andtransmits the information as a lost article information request signalto the server apparatus 5-1.

The “return” button B7 of the input form screen G2 a is an operationbutton for instructing the viewer unit 26 to return to the most previousdisplay screen. The “return” button B7 is also appropriately disposed inother screens described later. In addition, the “terminate” button B5 isan operation button for instructing the viewer unit 26 to terminate theapplication. The “terminate” button B5 is also disposed in each screendescribed later.

In the case of existence of a found article relevant to the lost articlein the server apparatus 5-1, the mobile terminal 2 receives shortestroute information indicating the storage place of the found article fromthe server apparatus 5-1 and displays a shortest route screen.

A shortest route screen G4 a illustrated in FIG. 54 has a map displayarea E4 a that displays map data indicating the shortest route to thestorage place, and the like.

The map display area E4 a is the same as the map display area E4 of theshortest route screen G6 illustrated in FIG. 25. That is, the finalposition of the service user on the line of movement is denoted by ablack circle mark (a mark of a black circle r1 a), the storage place isdenoted by a star mark r2 a, and the shortest route from the finalposition to the storage place is denoted by a dotted line 11 a.

In the case of absence of a found article relevant to the lost articlein the server apparatus 5-1 and the server apparatus 5-1 making a queryto the POS terminal 6-1, the mobile terminal 2 displays a notificationscreen by notification from the server apparatus 5-1 and then accessesthe server apparatus 5-1 to acquire the shortest route information.

In a notification screen G3 a illustrated in FIG. 54, disposed arenotification information J3, a “transmit” button B3 a, and the like. Bynotification from the server apparatus 5-1, the notification function ofthe mobile terminal 2 is operated, and the notification screen G3 a isdisplayed. The notification information J3 a is message information thatindicates discovery of the lost article. The “transmit” button B3 a isan operation button for acquiring the storage place of the lost articleagain. If a touch input is provided on the “transmit” button B3 a, theinformation as to the lost article that is immediately previously inputis transmitted as a lost article information request signal to theserver apparatus 5-1.

By the configuration described heretofore, if the mobile terminal 2requests searching for a lost article, the mobile terminal 2 canacquire, from the server apparatus 5-1, information that indicates astorage place of a found article discovered within the range of movementof the mobile terminal 2. In addition, even in the case of absence of apreviously discovered found article that matches the lost article of theuser, the server apparatus 5-1 transmits a query signal as to the lostarticle to the POS terminal or the like of a store within the range ofmovement of the mobile terminal 2 and receives notification of the lostarticle from the POS terminal if the lost article is discovered. Theserver apparatus 5-1 notifies discovery of the lost article to themobile terminal. Thus, by notification from the server apparatus 5-1after discovery, the mobile terminal 2 can acquire, from the serverapparatus 5-1, information that indicates the storage place of the foundarticle.

Eleventh Embodiment

An embodiment in the case of a multimedia terminal providing the serviceof the server apparatus 5 related to a lost article illustrated in thetenth embodiment will be illustrated in the present embodiment.

A lost article guidance system according to the present embodiment isacquired by replacing the server apparatus 5-1 with a multimediaterminal M4 (refer to FIG. 55) in the network configuration of the lostarticle guidance system 500-1 illustrated in the tenth embodiment. Themultimedia terminal M4 is installed in a predetermined place in thecommercial facility U1 and provides a guidance screen related to a lostarticle to the service user instead of the operation screen of themobile terminal 2.

The multimedia terminal M4, by access of the service user, providesservice such as lost article searching and guidance for a storage placeof a lost article. For example, if a query as to a lost article is inputfrom the service user by an input on the guidance screen, the multimediaterminal M4 displays a storage place of a found article relevant to thelost article on the guidance screen based on provision of informationfrom each POS terminal 6-1.

The POS terminal 6-1, in the case of discovering a found article,notifies information of the found article (e.g., information thatindicates the found date and time, the name of the found article, or thefeatures of the found article) to the multimedia terminal M4.

Functional Configuration of Multimedia Terminal M4

Next, a functional configuration of the multimedia terminal M4 will bedescribed. For a hardware configuration of the multimedia terminal M4,refer to FIG. 36. The multimedia terminal M4 implements each functionalunit illustrated in FIG. 55 by the CPU 401 reading various programs ofthe ROM 402 or the HDD 405 into the RAM 403 in order and executing theprograms.

FIG. 55 is a block diagram illustrating one example of functions relatedto lost article guidance service of the multimedia terminal M4. The samefunctions as the functions provided by the server apparatus 5-1 (referto FIG. 43) illustrated in the tenth embodiment are designated by thesame reference signs. In addition, the same functions as the functionsof the multimedia terminal M1 (refer to FIG. 37) illustrated in thefifth embodiment are designated by the same reference signs.

Hereinafter, functions related to an interface with the service userwill be mainly described. A viewer unit 95 acquires screen informationrelated to the lost article guidance service from the HDD 405 andoutputs the screen information to the screen display unit 82. Forexample, the viewer unit 95 outputs, to the screen display unit 82, ascreen corresponding to a received content of the input receiving unit81. In addition, the viewer unit 95, in accordance with the receivedcontent of the input receiving unit 81, acquires screen information fromthe assignment processing unit 11 and outputs the screen.

The assignment processing unit 11, by request from the viewer unit 95,controls various service processes in the multimedia terminal M4. Inaddition, the assignment processing unit 11, in accordance with therequest content from the viewer unit 95, makes a query as to a lostarticle to the POS terminal 6-1 through the first communicating unit 83.

Further description of each unit and description of a communicationprocess and the like are repetition of the previous description in otherembodiments such as the fifth embodiment and the tenth embodiment andthus will not be further described here.

Various programs used in the information processing apparatus, thesystem, and the mobile terminal of the present embodiment may beprovided as files in an installable format or an executable formatrecorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, aflexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD) and may beexecuted after being read into the HDD, the flash ROM, or the like ofeach device.

The programs may be stored on a computer connected to a network such asthe Internet and provided by download via the network.

In the case of using a beacon, cost may be incurred from the necessityof installation of the beacon. In addition, in installation of thebeacon, agreement with a person relevant to a building or a land isrequired, and usage may be limited to a narrow extent. The GPS can beused in a wide range such as an urban area. However, the GPS may not beused in a place where electromagnetic waves hardly arrive, such as asubway. Furthermore, in the case of general use of the GPS, an error ofapproximately 10 m may be generated. Thus, since geomagnetic data canalso be used, the geomagnetic data may also be used.

By using the geomagnetic data, the system having comparatively highpositioning accuracy and suitability for walking can be provided. Forexample, map information of the building and the subway and thegeomagnetic data at each point of the building and the subway areregistered in advance in a database. In addition, the geomagnetic dataat the place of the mobile terminal is collected by using a sensortechnology of the mobile terminal. The current place of the mobileterminal is specified by overlaying the geomagnetic data registered inthe database with the geomagnetic data of the place of the mobileterminal. Accordingly, the movement line data can be collected by usinglog data of positioning at each place of movement of the mobileterminal.

A user who does shopping or the like on foot may return to a store thatthe user sees on the path of movement, and the user may not remember aspecific way to the place of the store since the store is not adestination. In this case, by using the movement line data having highaccuracy, the store can be accurately found by narrowing stores down tothe stores along the path. For example, in the case of the user wantingto see again a bag that the user sees on the path of passage, the usercan easily return to the store that the user sees by searching for a bagstore from the stores along the path of passage.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

Examples of related art include JP-A-2009-198409.

What is claimed is:
 1. A navigation server comprising: a networkinterface controller through which movement line information is receivedfrom a mobile terminal, the movement line information including locationinformation and a timestamp associated with the location information; astorage device that stores location data of public places, and publicplace data associated with each of the public places; and a processorconfigured to extract movement line data from the movement lineinformation received from the mobile terminal and store the extractedmovement line data in the storage device, wherein the processor, inresponse to search criteria including a time period and a keywordreceived from the mobile terminal, generates a navigation map that showsthe public places that are located along a route defined by the storedmovement line data corresponding to the time period and are associatedwith the public place data related to the keyword, and controls thenetwork interface controller to transmit the generated navigation map tothe mobile terminal for display by the mobile terminal.
 2. Thenavigation server according to claim 1, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to determine a shortest route between a current location ofthe mobile terminal and one of the public places, and the shortest routeis depicted in the navigation map.
 3. The navigation server according toclaim 1, wherein each public place is identified by a beacon identifiertransmitted from a beacon device installed at the public place, and thelocation information includes the beacon identifier.
 4. The navigationserver according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configuredto control the network interface controller to transmit signals to aplurality of point-of-sale terminals, each of which is associated with apublic place, to determine based on responses to the signals which ofthe public places meets the search criteria.
 5. The navigation serveraccording to claim 1, wherein the search criteria include a store nameor a merchandise name.
 6. The navigation server according to claim 1,wherein the search criteria include a name of a lost article.
 7. Thenavigation server according to claim 1, wherein the public placesinclude one or more stores, and the public place data associated witheach of the stores includes a merchandise name sold at the store.
 8. Thenavigation server according to claim 7, wherein the processor generatesthe navigation map that shows the stores, each of which is associatedwith the merchandise name that matches or includes the keyword.
 9. Anavigation system comprising: a plurality of wireless devices; and anavigation server configured to communicate with a mobile terminal andincluding: a network interface controller through which movement lineinformation is received from a mobile terminal, the movement lineinformation including location information and a timestamp associatedwith the location information; a storage device that stores locationdata of public places where the wireless devices are installed andpublic place data associated with each of the public places; and aprocessor configured to extract movement line data from the movementline information received from the mobile terminal and store theextracted movement line data in the storage device, wherein theprocessor, in response to search criteria including a time period and akeyword received from the mobile terminal, generates a navigation mapthat shows the public places that are located along a route defined bythe stored movement line data corresponding to the time period and areassociated with the public place data related to the keyword, andcontrols the network interface controller to transmit the generatednavigation map to the mobile terminal for display by the mobileterminal.
 10. The navigation system according to claim 9, wherein theprocessor is further configured to determine a shortest route between acurrent location of the mobile terminal and one of the public places,and the shortest route is depicted in the navigation map.
 11. Thenavigation system according to claim 9, wherein the public places areidentified by a beacon identifier transmitted from each of the wirelessdevices, and the location information includes the beacon identifier.12. The navigation system according to claim 9, wherein the processor isfurther configured to control the network interface controller totransmit signals to a plurality of point-of-sale terminals, each ofwhich is associated with a public place, to determine based on responsesto the signals which of the public places meets the search criteria. 13.The navigation system according to claim 9, wherein the search criteriainclude a store name or a merchandise name.
 14. The navigation systemaccording to claim 9, wherein the search criteria include a name of alost article.
 15. The navigation system according to claim 9, whereinthe public places include one or more stores, and the public place dataassociated with each of the stores includes a merchandise name sold atthe store.
 16. The navigation system according to claim 15, wherein theprocessor generates the navigation map that shows the stores, each ofwhich is associated with the merchandise name that matches or includesthe keyword.